Only Fools and Horses (1981): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1981, Only Fools and Horses is a comedy series.

What it’s about. Only Fools and Horses.... Is a British sitcom created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally transmitted on BBC One from 1981 to 1991, with sixteen sporadic Christmas specials aired until 2003. In working-class Peckham in south-east London, ambitious market trader Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter and his younger half-brother Rodney, explore their highs and lows in life, in particular their attempts to get rich. Initially not an immediate hit and receiving little promotion early on, it later achieved consistently high ratings, and the 1996 episode "Time on Our Hands" (originally billed as the series finale) holds the record for the biggest UK audience for a sitcom episode, attracting 24.3 million viewers. The series bears a significant influence on British culture, contributing several words and phrases to the English language.

Who’s in it. Only Fools and Horses stars Lennard Pearce as Edward 'Grandad' Trotter, Tessa Peake-Jones as Raquel Turner, Patrick Murray as Mickey Pearce and David Jason as Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 8.1/10, Only Fools and Horses sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Britbox Apple TV Channel and BritBox Amazon Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Only Fools and Horses page.

If you liked it. Fans of Only Fools and Horses tend to enjoy Rick and Morty, My Hero Academia, One Piece and The Umbrella Academy.