22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Only Fools and Horses legend nearly turned down iconic role over four lines and £400
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A ONLY Fools and Horses legend has revealed they almost turned down their iconic role for four lines and £400.
The hit sitcom, which is still adored decades on and watched by a whole new audience, aired on the BBC for seven series.
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An Only Fools and Horses icon almost turned down his iconic role in the hit show
Credit: BBC
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John Challis played fan-favourite Boycie in the hit BBC sitcom
Credit: Rex
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Debbie Arnold married John Challis in 1981
Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
But over 20 years on from its final ever episode, it's now been revealed how one star almost turned down their iconic role in Only Fools and Horses.
Local second-hand car salesman Herman Terrance Aubrey "Boycie" Boyce was a firm fan-favourite in the show and was played by the late John Challis.
His antagonistic relationship with Del Boy and Rodney Trotter often saw him in the Nag's Head swigging cognac.
However, in a new interview, his ex-wife Debbie Arnold has revealed she convinced him to sign up to the show - after he was originally given just four lines.
Debbie told Best's Suddenly Single podcast: 'I was the person who made John do Only Fools and Horses.
"He did a series called Citizen Smith and he played almost Boycie in that and Johnny Sullivan [the writer] said, 'I'm going to write that character into something'.
"John got the script and said 'it's only four f****ing lines, I can't do this darling'.
"I said look, how much is it? He said £400. I said do it. He said, all right then. That was the pilot.'
John died aged 79 in September 2021 after battling cancer.
Only Fool and Horses legend David Jason breaks silence on 'feud' rumours with co-star Nicholas Lyndhurst on Great Christmas Moments
Probate figure show he left a gross estate of £497,000 with his fourth wife Carol receiving the remaining balance after his affairs were settled.
Debbie, who was married to John for just four years, is a well-known face in soap.
She played Sylvie Hicks and Carole Evans on Coronation Street, Debbie Wilson in Emmerdale and Janice Bolton in Hollyoaks.
