Who Sang Only Fools And Horses Theme Tune

So, there I was, humming the theme tune of Only Fools and Horses while doing the dishes the other day. You know the one, right? That catchy little ditty that's been stuck in our heads since the 70s. It got me thinking, who's the genius behind this timeless tune?

I mean, it's not like we can just Shazam it, can we? We're talking about a time when the only streaming was when you left the tap running. So, I decided to do a bit of digging. Grab a cuppa, let's dive in.

Meet John Sullivan

Alright, so you might know that the show was created by the brilliant John Sullivan. But did you know he also wrote the theme tune? That's right, the man was a multi-talent. He once said he wrote it in about ten minutes, which is just ridiculous. I've been trying to write a shopping list for the past hour, and I'm still not sure if I've got everything.

Now, you might be thinking, "Hang on a minute, I've heard that tune before Only Fools." And you'd be right. Sullivan actually wrote it for a previous show of his, Citizen Smith. But it was such a hit that they brought it back for Only Fools. Talk about making the most of a good thing, eh?

But What's It Called?

Here's where it gets a bit tricky. The theme tune doesn't actually have a name. I know, I know, it's a crime against music. But Sullivan never gave it a title, so we're all just stuck calling it "The Only Fools and Horses Theme Tune". Bit of a mouthful, isn't it?

Some people call it "The Batman Theme", because it's similar to the tune from the 60s Batman series. But Sullivan's always maintained it's just a coincidence. I mean, I guess Del Boy could pull off a pretty mean "Na na na na na na na na..."

People only just discovering who sang Only Fools And Horses theme tune

And the Music?

So, Sullivan wrote the tune, but who played it? That would be the Neville Marriner and his Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Fancy, huh? I mean, I'm more of a One Direction kind of gal myself, but each to their own.

They recorded it in 1981, and the rest is history. Well, not quite. There was a bit of a mix-up with the recording, and the version we know and love today is actually a sped-up version. But who's complaining? It's perfect just the way it is.

So, There You Have It

And that, my friends, is the story of the Only Fools and Horses theme tune. It's been with us for decades, and it's not going anywhere anytime soon. So, next time you hear it, you can give a little nod to John Sullivan and his ten-minute masterpiece.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a shopping list to finish. Wish me luck.