What Year Did Only Fools And Horses Start

Alright, gather 'round, gather 'round! You know, I was down the pub the other day, and this bloke asks me, "When did Only Fools and Horses start?" I said, "Well, mate, that's a tale that goes back further than Del Boy's dodgy dealings!"

Back in the Day

So, picture this: it's the 1960s, the Beatles are topping the charts, and the miniskirt is all the rage. Now, I'm not saying John Lennon was strumming his guitar while wearing a miniskirt, but you get the picture. It's a time of change, and our beloved Trotters are about to make their mark on the small screen.

Now, you might think, "Blimey, that's a long time ago!" But hold your horses, because the story of Only Fools and Horses starts even earlier than that. In fact, it all began with a man named John Sullivan. Now, John wasn't your average bloke. He was a writer, a creator, and, as it turns out, a bit of a genius.

Enter John Sullivan

John was born in 1946, and by the time he was a teenager, he was already writing scripts for his local youth club. Now, I don't know about you, but when I was a teenager, I was more interested in who was going to win the World Cup than writing scripts. But not John, oh no. He was already honing his craft, and it shows in every episode of Only Fools and Horses.

So, fast forward to the 1970s. John's been writing for a while now, and he's got a script called "Those Foolish Trousers" knocking around. It's about a bloke who tries to sell some dodgy jeans, and it's got all the hallmarks of what's to come. But it's not until 1981 that the BBC finally says, "Alright, John, let's give it a go."

The Trotters Take Centre Stage

And so, on the 8th of September 1981, the very first episode of Only Fools and Horses aired. It was called "Big Brother," and it introduced us to the Trotters - Del Boy, Rodney, Grandad, and Uncle Albert. Now, I won't spoil the ending for you, but let's just say, it's a classic example of Del's "This time next year, we'll be millionaires" optimism.

But here's where it gets interesting. You might think that the first episode was a massive hit, and the BBC were dancing in the streets, shouting, "We've got a winner here!" But no, that's not what happened. In fact, the first episode only got around 9 million viewers. Now, that might sound like a lot, but in those days, it was actually quite low.

Then And Now: Only Fools And Horses

But John Sullivan wasn't deterred. He knew he had something special, and he kept writing. And guess what? The viewers kept watching. By the time the second series rolled around, Only Fools and Horses was a smash hit. The Trotters were a national treasure, and Del Boy's catchphrases were echoing through the streets of Britain.

From Strength to Strength

And so, our beloved sitcom went from strength to strength. It ran for 7 series and 64 episodes, with the final episode airing on Christmas Day 1991. Now, I don't know about you, but I still get a bit teary-eyed thinking about that last episode. I mean, who else could make you laugh and cry in the same scene?

But here's something you might not know. Even though the series ended in 1991, the Trotters haven't gone away. Oh no, they're still with us, in the form of reruns, specials, and even a stage show. And why? Because, as Del Boy would say, "They're not heavy, they're my brother!"

So, there you have it, the tale of how Only Fools and Horses started. It's a story of perseverance, of believing in yourself, and of never giving up on your dreams. And if that's not a lesson we can all learn from Del Boy, I don't know what is.