Latest news with #OnlyFoolsAndHorses
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
David Jason details poignant moment long-lost daughter found out he was her dad
Only Fools And Horses legend Sir David Jason opens up about the emotional journey of learning he had a daughter he never knew existed Sir David Jason has opened up about the astonishing moment he found out, at 84, that he had a daughter he'd never known existed. The actor, best known for Only Fools and Horses, learned in 2023 that Abi Harris, born from a brief romance with actress Jennifer Hill during a 1970 production of Under Milk Wood, was his biological child. Discussing the revelation on Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast, he recalled: '[Myself and Jennifer] parted our ways and we drifted apart and she got involved with someone else and married him and that was it.' Decades later, the truth emerged when Abi confronted her mother about her origins. ''That chap you call dad is not your father,'' Hill told her. Abi's shocked reply was: ''What do you mean he's not my father?'' Hill explained: ''I think you'll find your father is David Jason, because we had a fling together when we did these shows.'' Jason, though initially overwhelmed, described their eventual connection as a 'happy ever after' and welcomed Abi into his life. The emotional impact was detailed in his memoir This Time Next Year, where he confessed: 'There is the pang of sadness for those missing years, all that lost time.' He was blindsided when Abi reached out via a heartfelt letter. 'You will be unsurprised to learn that my hands were shaking by now. What had I just read? I had to go back and read the whole thing again. And then I had to read it again. And then again after that.' The letter included a request for an anonymous DNA test. 'At no point in the nearly fifty years that had gone by since then had that thought had cause to enter my head,' he wrote, admitting the idea that he could have fathered a child in 1970 had never occurred to him. Despite the initial turmoil - 'wonder and amazement, through anxiety and heartache, to fear and outright panic' - his wife Gill Hinchcliffe, with whom he shares daughter Sophie, was 'so supportive and understanding.' When Jason finally met Abi, there was an undeniable 'sense of distance,' something he called 'such a complicated thing to process, for us both.' Alongside the discovery of Abi, he also learned he had a grandson, 10-year-old Charlie. Abi, now an actress like her father, had long suspected the truth. Not only did she know of Jason's past with her mother, but she'd also noticed their shared features - especially the shape of their noses. She had grown up believing her father was Geoffrey Davion, who passed away in 1996. The reunion has since blossomed into a warm relationship. Abi and Charlie joined Jason's family for Christmas in Buckinghamshire. In a poetic twist, Abi - who has appeared in Doctor Who - even acted alongside her mother and Jason in a 2008 revival of Under Milk Wood, the very play that first brought her parents together.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sir David Jason reveals how his long lost daughter discovered his identify and says despite being 'astonished' to discover he had a secret child its become a true 'happy ever after' story
Sir David Jason has recalled how his long lost daughter Abi Harris discovered the Only Fools And Horses icon was her biological father. The actor, 84, learned of his secret child after 52-years in 2023 following a brief relationship with actress Jennifer Hill during a stage production of Dylan Thomas's Under Milk in 1970. Speaking on Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast he said: '[Me and Jennifer] parted our ways and we drifted apart and she got involved with someone else and married him and that was it,' 'And then many many years later her daughter was talking about about where she came from and Jenny Hill said "That chap you call dad is not your father"'. 'She said: "What do you mean he's not my father?" and she replied "I think you'll find your father is David Jason, because we had a fling together when we did these shows" and that's [how she found out] she said'. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Sir David then agreed with Gyles that despite the shock for everyone involved the reunion became a true 'happy ever after' with Abi welcomed into his family. Opening up on the extraordinary moment in his life and how he wishes he knew Abi sooner, David said in his 2024 memoir This Time Next Year that there is 'the pang of sadness for those missing years, all that lost time'. Explaining that he received the 'most astonishing' letter from the secret daughter he never knew he had, David recalled sitting down in his kitchen and how his hands shook as he started reading it. David said he felt 'wonder and amazement, through anxiety and heartache, to fear and outright panic', when he knew the possibility that he had a second daughter. In the letter, Abi wanted David to take an anonymous paternity test because she was uncertain - but insisted she didn't want any financial support. He penned: 'You will be unsurprised to learn that my hands were shaking by now. What had I just read? I had to go back and read the whole thing again. And then I had to read it again. And then again after that. 'I have to say it really hadn't crossed my mind that Abi Harris was my daughter – that my relationship with Jennifer Hill while we were in that production of Under Milk Wood in 1970 could have produced a child without me knowing about it. 'At no point in the nearly fifty years that had gone by since then had that thought had cause to enter my head.' David credits his wife Gill Hinchcliffe, whom he shares a daughter Sophie with, for being 'so supportive and understanding' about it all, despite the shock they were both in. When he met Abi for the first time, David said they both felt an 'inevitable sense of distance' due to the lost time they had. David added that it was 'such a complicated thing to process, for us both', after their first encounter. When he found out about Abi, he also discovered he had a 10-year-old grandson, Abi's son Charlie. Abi said while she had no idea who her father was - she had her suspicions after hearing about Jason's relationship with her mother. Her belief grew stronger after realising she shared the same shaped nose as him, and her parentage has now been confirmed. She had previously thought her father was Geoffrey Davion, who was married to her mother, until his death in 1996. Since the surprise discovery was made, Abi and Charlie have been to visit him and spent a period over Christmas with him and his family at his home in Ellesborough, Buckinghamshire. She also seems to have inherited some of his famed acting ability, having appeared in an episode of Doctor Who and remarkably a revival performance of Under Milk Wood in 2008 where Sir David and her mother also took part. Friends who saw the legendary actor and Abi stood next to each other remarked on their similar facial profiles, and as the years went past, she worked up the courage to find out the truth.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
David Jason reveals surprising inspiration behind Del Boy's cockney accent in Only Fools And Horses
Sir David Jason has revealed the surprising inspiration behind Del Boy's iconic cockney accent in Only Fools And Horses. The actor, 85, said he landed the part of Del Boy because he would mimic his former boss' cockney accent while they both played Billiards Games. While he was playing Granville in the BBC sitcom Open All Hours, he and the show's assistant Ray Butt would spend their time away from filming playing billiards together. Jason said he found Ray's east end accent so funny that he would imitate it during their games. And when Only Fools And Horses director John Sullivan was struggling to find someone to play Derek Trotter, he was told of Jason's hilarious cockney impressions and invited him to try out the iconic part. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Speaking on Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast, Jason said: 'When we were doing Open All Hours I used to play billiards with Ray Butt, who was the First Assistant. 'I used to take the mickey out of Ray Butt because he was a really "Right EastEnder", which always fascinated me because I thought, "How could he become a director because his accent was always like 'you know what I mean?'" 'He spoke like that all the time. It intrigued me. I used to take the mickey out of it.' Ray had gone on to become a producer/director for Only Fools And Horses which was being put together and cast when he confided in the director of Open All Hours that he was struggling for his main Del Boy character. Jason continued: 'When he was casting for Derek Trotter, the director of Open All Hours said to him "What are you looking for?" 'He said "I'm looking for this character who's a Londoner - an east London sort of character we're having a bit of a problem finding". 'He said "Well have you interviewed David Jason? Don't you remember he used to take the mickey out of you?"' Jason said the Open All Hours director reminded Butt how David's impressions of him were 'so successful we all used to fall about because you two were like Mutt and Jeff'. Jason said: 'And Ray Butt went "Oh yes, you're right, I hadn't thought of that, I'll ask him to come in and read with me and John Sullivan", which he did. And the rest is history.' Jason played Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter over seven series and ten years as Only Fools became one of the most loved comedies in British TV history. It comes after the opening night of the Only Fools And Horses: The Musical was forced to a halt last month after a 'medical emergency'. Theatergoers at The Winter Gardens in Blackpool were evacuated during the interval and the second act of the show was postponed after a member of the audience fell ill, with paramedics called to the scene. Only Fools And Horses: The Musical, featuring Paul Whitehouse as Grandad, is currently touring the UK following a four-year sold-out run-in London's West End. The Winter Gardens issued a statement about the incident as they revealed all those affected would be able to transfer their tickets to another night or request a refund. Attendees were quick to praise the theatre - which hosted the musical until May 3 - for the staff's quick reaction and calm response to the incident. A statement from The Winter Gardens read: 'During last night's performance of Only Fools and Horses The Musical, a medical emergency involving a member of the audience occurred during the interval in the front stalls area of the auditorium. It comes just days after the opening night of the Only Fools And Horses: The Musical was forced to a halt at The Winter Gardens in Blackpool last month after a 'medical emergency' 'Due to the nature of the incident and in accordance with venue protocols, the decision was taken to evacuate the theatre and postpone the remainder of the show. 'All affected ticket holders will receive an email today with full details on how to transfer their tickets to another performance this week, or how to request a refund if they are unable to attend an alternative date. 'We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our staff, the visiting company, and the emergency services for their swift and professional response. 'Our thoughts and well wishes are with the individual involved and their family at this time. 'We thank everyone for their patience and understanding during these exceptional circumstances.'
The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘It's the small details', says emotional Amy Huberman as she shares touching tribute to late dad on anniversary of death
AMY Huberman has paid a touching tribute to her late dad on the anniversary of his death. The Finding Joy star's beloved dad Harold Huberman passed away in 2022 after living with Parkinson's disease. 2 Amy's beloved dad Harold passed away three years ago Credit: Instagram 2 The actress shared a touching tribute to her dad Credit: Instagram Harold was 84-years-old when he passed away, leaving behind a mighty legacy. The actress shared a touching poem written by Pip O'Neill titled, Tell Me Their Name. The poem highlights the importance of keeping memories alive by speaking about loved ones and recalls small details and stories that made them who they are. read more on amy huberman In the caption of her post, Amy reflected on some of the things she remembers most about her dad. She wrote: "It's the small detail of things and bits and ways of who we are, who we were, the things that both hurt and sooth us to remember when they are gone. "But remember we will, to keep their memory. My Dad's tea; teabag in and out in less than .5 of a second, slice of lemon. "Saying 'good news' anytime he ate something he liked. Calling you a 'daft git', accompanied by a wry smile being his convivial greeting to anyone in his inner circle. most read in the irish sun "The dog sitting at his feet in the evening by his chair. His calling out 'bring me back a parrot!' whenever you left the house. His tweed flat cap. "Laughing at every episode of Only Fools And Horses like he hadn't already watched it a thousand times." Inside Amy Huberman's birthday celebrations as she enjoys boozy night out with hubby Brian O'Driscoll Amy's fans and friends flocked to the comment section to share their love. Jillian said: "This is just gorgeous. Sounds like your Dad was the best fun." Theresa commented: " Love this @amy_huberman . Good to remember our loved ones who have left this earth but not our hearts. " POUR DECISION Amy recently announced a "versatile" The Irish actress has added another string to her bow after becoming a business owner with the launch of her own branded wine. Taking to The mum-of-three wrote: "Ah… here! An absolute pinch-me moment to be just days away from launching @ah_wines. "Ah, a versatile phrase expressing surprise, understanding, pleasure, excitement, wonderment or eureka moments!"
Extra.ie
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Amy Huberman's emotional tribute to dad Harold on third anniversary
Amy Huberman has shared a beautiful tribute to her late father on his anniversary, detailing the 'small details' about him that 'both hurt and sooth.' The actress' father, Harold, passed away in a Dublin nursing home following a lengthy battle with Parkinson's Disease in 2022. Harold was 84 years old. Amy Huberman has shared a beautiful tribute to her late father on his anniversary, detailing the 'small details' about him that 'both hurt and sooth.' Pic: Instagram Taking to social media on Tuesday morning, Amy shared a sweet poem, Tell Me Their Name, written by Pip O'Neill. The poem encouraged those grieving loved ones to speak about them — about the cardigan they wore and they way they liked their eggs. 'Speak confidently, and often, so I can see them sitting at the end of the table, reading glasses askew,' the poem read. Amy Huberman with her father Harold. Pic: VIP Ireland 'Do not question their space here, there is room. 'Give me their stories, and let's share in the living of it. Give me their stories, and let's share in the living of it. 'Carry them out in our coat pockets, into the night, like pebbles from a beach.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amy Huberman (@amy_huberman) Sharing the poem, Amy said: 'Remembering my Dad on his anniversary I really love this poem by @pjo._ The Finding Joy star wrote: 'It's the small details of things and bits and ways of who we are, who we were, the things that both hurt and sooth us to remember we will, to keep their memory. 'My Dad's tea; teabag in and out in less than .5 of a second, slice of lemon. Saying 'good news' anytime he ate something he liked. Calling you 'daft git,' accompanied by a wry smile being his convivial greeting to anyone in his inner circle.' Amy Huberman with her mother Sandra and her father Harold on her wedding day. Pic: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland Amy recalled her father's dog sitting by his feet in the evening and his tweed flat cap and the way he would call 'bring me back a parrot!' whenever someone left the house. 'Laughing at every episode of Only Fools And Horses like he hadn't already watched it a thousand times,' she added. Amy encouraged her followers to share little details of their own loved ones, with Roseanna Ruane writing: 'Our little girl Saoírse, how she giggled and showed affection for people she loved.' Another shared: 'I think of my Dad sitting at the top of my table with the biggest smile when he had a slice of cake & saying 'mind yourself' every time I was going out the door.' A third commented: 'This is just beautiful Amy, thank you for sharing. It's all the little things isn't it… the daily calls and the check ins… which used to bug me at times, but I'd happily take one from my Mum or Dad any day now.'
