Sir David Jason reveals why he’s still working at 84 – and heartbreaking reason he picks roles
SIR David Jason has revealed the real reason he has refused to give up working despite being 84.
The actor has candidly confessed that he is addicted to work at the age of 84 but is keen to play more cartoon characters like Danger Mouse for a heartbreaking reason.
The Only Fools and Horses star played the lead in the animated series between 1981-92 but has shared the frank admission that these are his ideal roles as he struggles to remember his lines.
His most recent cartoon series was Pip Ahoy! where he voiced the character of lighthouse keeper Skipper between 2014 and 2020.
Amid hopes for another cartoon role, David divulged all on his addiction to work in a brand new interview.
Sir David said: “I’m just addicted to work. And some people get addicted to alcohol, some stupid devils get addicted to drugs, and I’m addicted I suppose to an audience and want to make people laugh and enjoy themselves.”
Asked on the Full Disclosure podcast if he had any specific acting dreams still, he revealed: “No, there isn’t really, as long as I can work.
“One of the great things that I would like to do more of is making characters out of cartoons I think.
“I really enjoy that.
“It’s characters like that I really would like to play because at my time of life it’s not as easy to learn the lines as it used to be.
“But I can still invent the characters and I enjoy that process.
“So if you’re out there and wanting to employ a senior citizen, I’m with you.”
Despite admitting that a cartoon role would be ideal for his next project, the star was recently left begging BBC bosses to revive one of his most popular sitcoms.
Although best known for being Del Boy, it is David’s role as Granville in Open All Hours and its spin-off series Still Open All Hours that remains one of his favourites and one he wishes to explore once again.
While speaking to Jon Kay for a segment of BBC Breakfast, which aired this morning, David shared his hopes of returning Still Open All Hours for one more series.
In 2019, the BBC commissioned a seventh series of the comedy, but it ended up being shelved because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Four years later, with no new series in the works, the show was officially axed leaving David gutted that the show will never be “finished”.
Speaking to Jon, David added: “Because a lot of storylines were left a bit open. It was cancelled originally, as you said, because of Covid, and they thought this would really be lovely to wind it all up.
“We all gave it the green light, it went off to the BBC, and we’re still waiting.”
Issuing a plea to BBC bosses, he added: “So if anybody’s at the BBC wanting a series that audiences like, we’ve got it ready – ready to go and it’s off and running. It would be great.”
Only Fools and Horses' most memorable episodes
The beloved sitcom only aired for seven series but is still adored to this date - here are fans' most memorable scenes from the BBC hit...
- Jolly Boys’ Outing – The humorous episode was filled with disaster and also romance. It saw Del Boy, Rodney and Grandad leave Peckham for a day trip to Margate. However, their coach explodes, Rodney is arrested and Del Boy reunites with Raquel.
- Time on their Hands – The episode sees the Trotters reflect on their life in South London after finally becoming millionaires. Airing in 1996, it pulled in an incredible 24million viewers.
- A Touch of Glass – This unforgettable episode sees Del Boy and his chandelier cleaning service. In hilarious scenes, he and Rodney accidentally drop a chandelier, sending it crashing to the floor.
- Stage Fright – Raquel performs with Tony Angelino while pregnant to perform a duet – but she’s unaware he has a speech impediment.
- Yuppy Love – Derek attempts to transform himself into a high-flyer, wearing a stripped shirt and red braces. It also sees Del fall through the bar, while Rodney meets Cassandra for the first time.
- Mother Nature’s Son – Del Boy inherits an allotment from his grandad, but it’s contaminated by a yellow substance. The Peckham Spring Water business is then born – but it’s actually just tap water from Nelson Mandela House.
- Heroes and Villains – Del Boy and Rodney dress up as Batman and Robin for Harry Malcolm’s party. However, Boycie forgot to mention Harry died, and it had become a wake!
- To Hull and Back – Del Boy is convinced to smuggle diamonds from The Netherlands. PC Roy Slater intercepts them before he’s later arrested for corruption. It ends with Del throwing his £15k over the balcony thinking it was fake – when it was in fact real!
- The Russians are Coming – The threat of nuclear war looms over Peckham so the Trotters decide to batten down the hatches. They build a DIY war shelter – on the top of Mandela House.
- The Unlucky Winner Is – Rodney wins a holiday abroad after Del Boy entered him into a painting competition. However, when he lands in Spain Rodney discovers it’s a prize for children and must pretend he’s a 14-year-old child.