Only Fools and Horses star Sir David Jason makes 'painful' decision as he admits 'it's over now'

Daily Record

07-05-2025

Only Fools and Horses legend Sir David Jason has been forced to give up a huge part of his life that he loved due to the physical pain he was experiencing.
Sir David Jason, the beloved star of Only Fools and Horses, has revealed that he's had to give up a cherished hobby due to physical discomfort. The 85-year-old actor, who earned his helicopter pilot wings back in 2005, was often seen soaring through the skies in his Robinson R44.
However, as he shared in his memoir, This Time Next Year, that he recently had to bid farewell to his chopper "with extreme reluctance", reports the Mirror.
In his book, Sir David wrote: "The fact is, you need your hips, legs and knees to be in pretty tip-top condition for helicopter flying. Also your arms and shoulders. It's rather like playing a drum kit in that regard, although the consequences of getting out of time during the second verse are quite a bit graver.
"I realised I was getting increasingly uncomfortable up there in the air. Having to push the physical part of the task was taking some of the joy out of it.
"Clearly it was time to step away while I was still capable of stepping."
A popular sight in the skies surrounding his home in recent years, Sir David even dropped in to do a spot of shopping at Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm Shop - in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, back in 2022.
The farm features on Amazon Prime's Clarkson's Farm - which is set to retrurn for a fourth series on May 23.
One of the stars of the hit series, Kaleb Cooper, reacted to Sir David's flying visit in 2022 by posting on Instagram: "What a legend he is."
Reflecting on this significant change, Sir David expressed his pain, saying: "Flying that helicopter was a big part of my life. It was a lot of fun, obviously, but also just the most satisfying accomplishment."
In a frank chat with the Sunday Times, Sir David discussed how hip replacement surgery, which he underwent in 2023, greatly affected his mobility. He also acknowledged the inevitable impacts of ageing, admitting: "My memory isn't what it used to be."
"Most of us reach this point when things aren't quite as bright as they used to be."
Nevertheless, he remains positive, adding: "Mind you, I don't wear a hearing aid, I don't wear glasses, and I've only had to replace one bit of my body, so I'm not doing too bad."
In addition to being a keen helicopter pilot, Sir David has also been honorary vice patron of the Royal International Air Tattoo since 1999. In May 2014, he presented a cheque on behalf of the Fairford-based RAF Charitable Trust for £125,000 to the British RAF Air Cadet Organisation, to fund flight simulators for Air Cadets.