Raquel In Only Fools And Horses

Alright, gather 'round, 'cause I've got a tale to tell you about a lady who's as iconic as a red London bus, as classy as a chandelier in a Peckham council flat, and as loved as a Sunday roast at the Nag's Head. I'm talkin' 'bout Raquel, the one and only, from Only Fools and Horses.

Now, if you've been livin' under a rock and haven't seen this sitcom, let me give you a quick primer. It's set in the vibrant, if not slightly dodgy, streets of South London. The Trotters, a family of market traders, are the stars of the show. And at the heart of it all, like the pearl in a oyster, is Raquel.

Enter Raquel

Raquel first waltzed onto our screens in 1985, played by the fabulous Tessa Peake-Jones. She was a breath of fresh air, a posh bird who'd fallen for the charms of our lovable rogue, Del Boy. Now, Raquel wasn't your average toff. She was a trained opera singer, for crying out loud! Can you imagine, an opera singer in the Trotters' humble abode?

She was like a swan, graceful and elegant, gliding through the muck and mayhem of the Trotters' lives. And boy, did she have her work cut out for her. Del, Rodney, and Grandad were always up to their necks in some scheme or other. But Raquel, she took it all in her stride. She was the voice of reason, the calm in the storm.

Raquel's Rise to Fame

Now, Raquel might've started off as just Del's girlfriend, but she quickly became a fan favorite. She was smart, she was funny, and she had a way of putting Del in his place that was sheer poetry. Remember the time she told Del, "You're not a man, you're a twelve-year-old boy in a grown man's body"? Classic!

When Del First Met Raquel | Only Fools and Horses - YouTube

And let's not forget her iconic catchphrases. "Raquel, I'm a businessman!" she'd say, rolling her eyes at Del's latest get-rich-quick scheme. Or how about, "Del, you plonker!" when he'd pull another one of his stunts? Priceless!

Behind the Scenes

Did you know that Tessa Peake-Jones, the actress who plays Raquel, is actually a real-life opera singer? That's right, folks! She's got a degree in music from the Royal Academy of Music. Isn't that somethin' else? I mean, talk about method acting!

And here's a fun fact for you. The Trotters' flat in the show was actually a set in a studio. Can you believe it? All those years, we thought Del was livin' it up in that swanky flat in Nelson Mandela House. But no, it was just a set. Mind blown, right?

Del & Raquel: 3 CLASSIC Moments | Only Fools And Horses | BBC Comedy

Raquel's Legacy

Raquel might've left the show in the late 80s, but her spirit lived on. She was a symbol of class and sophistication in a world of dodgy deals and council flat living. She was the yin to Del's yang, the straight man to his comedy.

And let's not forget the impact she had on the show's fashion. Who can forget those fabulous outfits she wore? She was like a ray of sunshine in a world of dodgy suits and grandad slippers.

So, there you have it, folks. A little trip down memory lane with one of the greatest sitcom characters of all time. Raquel, you were, and always will be, a true trooper. And we, the viewers, were lucky to have you.