History Trivia / OnlyFoolsAndHorses

** Nicholas Lyndhurst as Rodney in the series itself, and as his biological father Freddie the Frog in ''RockAndChips''.

** This was also done the other way around--in ''GoodnightSweetheart'' Gary (played by Nicholas Lyndhurst) is about to lean back and fall through an open bar door like Del Boy famously did, but notices in time and gives an AsideGlance wink to the audience--accompanied by uproarious laughter that must seem inexplicable and random to anyone unfamiliar with the ''Only Fools'' scene in question.

* TheCharacterDiedWithHim: Both Grandad and Uncle Albert when their respective actors passed away.

** In 1986, David Jason told John Sullivan at a dinner that he wanted to leave the show and further his career elsewhere, so the fifth series finale "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" was written as the final OFAH episode, and would have seen Del leaving England with his friend Jumbo Mills to run a car business in Australia. A spin-off entitled ''Hot-Rod'' was planned, which would've been all about Rodney running Trotters Independent Traders with Mickey Pearce. However, Jason changed his mind and decided to stay on, and Sullivan rewrote the ending to show Del rejecting Jumbo's offer.

** Averted with Mike the Barman. Before his death from cancer, Mike McDonald didn't want his character to be killed off, so in the 2000s specials, his absence is explained as being imprisoned for embezzlement, having lost everything in one of Del's schemes..

** Averted with Mike the Barman. Before his death from cancer, Mike McDonald didn't want his character to be killed off, so in the 2003 specials, his absence is explained as being imprisoned for embezzlement, having lost everything in one of Del's schemes..

* PostScriptSeason: The 2003 specials.

** Jim Broadbent was John Sullivan's original choice for the role of Del. While Broadbent turned down the role, he did later make three guest appearances in the show as DCI Roy Slater.

* HeyItsThatGuy:
** Jim Broadbent plays Roy Slater.
** Eagle-eyed viewers might also spot [[Film/HarryPotter David Thewlis]] as one of the members of the band in the fourth series episode "It's Only Rock and Roll".
** Lennox Gilbey from the fifth series episode "The Longest Night" was played by Vas Blackwood, aka Rory Breaker in 'Film/LockStockAndTwoSmokingBarrels''.
** Del Boy's doctor in the sixth series episode "Sickness and Wealth" is played by Ewan Stewart, who also appeared in Creator/JamesCameron's ''Film/{{Titanic 1997}}'' as William Murdoch, the officer on the bridge when the ship hits the iceberg.
** Trigger's aunt Renee is played by Creator/JoanSims, mainstay of the ''Film/CarryOn'' films.
** David Jason is also known as the voice of [[WesternAnimation/DangerMouse Danger Mouse]].

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: Subverted; while ''Series/OnlyFoolsAndHorses'' is still the BBC's best-selling series of all time on both VHS and DVD, [[ExecutiveMeddling the Corporation's apparent desire]] to [[CanonDiscontinuity eradicate all traces of the original Ronnie Hazlehurst theme tune]] has led to the VHS releases of the first series (which, unlike the DVD, kept the original theme intact) becoming quite sought after by purist fans.

** Or what could have not been. Due to disappointing viewing figures for the first two series, the show was nearly cancelled altogether. However, the second series was repeated in a low key time slot and achieved respectable ratings, which convinced BBC producers to commission a third series. The show went from strength to strength thereafter.

** John Sullivan intended for Chas & Dave to sing the series' theme song due to the success from their "Rockney" style of music (a mixture of rock 'n roll and cockney). However, they were unavailable having just recorded their hit single "Ain't No Pleasing You", so Sullivan was persuaded by Ray Butt to sing the song himself, which he did.

** Creator/AnthonyHopkins, a big ''Only Fools and Horses'' fan, was keen to appear in the series. John Sullivan even wrote a part for him, but filming clashed with ''TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' and he therefore had to pull out.
* YouLookFamiliar: Jumbo Mills, Del's old business partner, is played by Nick Stringer, who also appeared in an earlier episode as an Australian to whom Del sells a car with faulty brakes.

** In the first chapter of the early 2000s Christmas trilogy, "If They Could See Us Now" (2001), The BBC wanted to get the rights from ITV to use the actual ''Series/WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire'' gameshow with a special guest appearance from Chris Tarrant, but ITV refused because a plot point was that Del gave a correct answer and the quizmaster said it was wrong due to an error. They ended up with a blatant {{expy}} called ''Goldrush'', hosted by Creator/JonathanRoss.

** Lennox Gilbey from the fifth series episode "The Longest Night" was played by Vas Blackwood, aka Rory Breaker in 'LockStockAndTwoSmokingBarrels''.
** Del Boy's doctor in the sixth series episode "Sickness and Wealth" is played by Ewan Stewart, who also appeared in JamesCameron's ''Film/{{Titanic}}'' as William Murdoch, the officer on the bridge when the ship hits the iceberg.

* HeyItsThatGuy:
** Jim Broadbent plays Slater.
** Lennox Gilbey from "The Longest Night" was played by Vas Blackwood, aka Rory Breaker in 'LockStockAndTwoSmokingBarrels''.
** Eagle-eyed viewers might also spot [[Film/HarryPotter David Thewlis]] as one of the members of the band in the fourth season episode "It's Only Rock and Roll".
** Del Boy's doctor in "Sickness and Wealth" is played by Ewan Stewart, who also appeared in JamesCameron's ''Film/{{Titanic}}'' as William Murdoch, the officer on the bridge when the ship hits the iceberg.

** Del Boy's doctor in "Sickness and Wealth" is played by Ewan Stewart, who also appeared in JamesCameron's ''Film/Titanic'' as William Murdoch, the officer on the bridge when the ship hits the iceberg.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Jim Broadbent plays Slater. Less significantly, Lennox Gilbey from "The Longest Night" was played by Vas Blackwood, aka Rory Breaker in ''LockStockAndTwoSmokingBarrels''. Eagle-eyed viewers might also spot [[Film/HarryPotter David Thewlis]] as one of the members of the band in the fourth season episode "It's Only Rock and Roll".

** In the first chapter of the early 2000s Christmas trilogy, "If They Could See Us Now" (2001), The BBC wanted to get the rights from ITV to use the actual ''WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire'' gameshow with a special guest appearance from Chris Tarrant, but ITV refused because a plot point was that Del gave a correct answer and the quizmaster said it was wrong due to an error. They ended up with a blatant {{expy}} called ''Goldrush'', hosted by JonathanRoss.

** Jim Broadbent was John Sullivan's original choice for the role of Del. While Broadbent turned down the role, he did later make three cameo appearances in the show as DI Roy Slater.

** John Sullivan intended for Chas & Dave to sing the series' theme song due to the success from their "Rockney" style of music (a mixture of rock 'n roll and cockney). However, they were unavailable having just recorded their hit record "Ain't No Pleasing You", so Sullivan was persuaded by Ray Butt to sing the song himself, which he did.
** In the mid-1980s, David Jason decided to leave the show, so the fifth season finale "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" was written as the final OFAH episode, and would have seen Del leaving England with his friend Jumbo Mills to run a car business in Australia. A spin-off series called ''Hot-Rod'' was planned, which would've been all about Rodney running Trotters Independent Traders with Mickey Pearce. However, Jason changed his mind and decided to stay on, and Sullivan rewrote the ending to show Del rejecting Jumbo's offer.

* ActorAllusion: In a Comic Relief episode Rodney says how stupid the idea of walking through a portal to the 1940's would be after Uncle Albert starts talking about the war followed by Raquel saying she's going to bed only for Del to reply "[[GoodnightSweetheart Goodnight Sweetheart.]]" followed by a shocked look from Rodney. Del goes on to say that he is not [[ATouchOfFrost a chief inspector.]]

** Jim Broadbent was John Sullivan's original choice for the role of Del. While failing to get the role, he did still appear within the show as DCI Slater, who made three appearances - all highly memorable.

** The fifth season finale "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" was originally written to become the final OFAH episode with Del leaving England with his friend Jumbo Mills to run a car business in Australia, thus launching a planned spin-off series called ''Hot-Rod'', which would've been all about Rodney running Trotters Independent Traders with Mickey Pearce. However, David Jason changed his mind and decided to stay on, and Sullivan had to rewrite the ending so that Del turns down Jumbo's offer.

** Enn Reitel, Robin Nedwell, and Billy Murray were also considered possible candidates for the role of Del, before it went to Creator/DavidJason.

** The same applies to the original version of "A Royal Flush," which is unavailable on any home video format (the VHS release had about a minute of footage removed, and the DVD release removed nearly ten minutes of footage and added a laugh track). However, the original cut still appears from time to time on the digital channels, so it's not too hard to find decent quality versions of it.

* HeyItsThatGuy: JimBroadbent plays Slater. Less significantly, Lennox Gilbey from "The Longest Night" was played by Vas Blackwood, aka Rory Breaker in ''LockStockAndTwoSmokingBarrels''. Eagle-eyed viewers might also spot [[Film/HarryPotter David Thewlis]] as one of the members of the band in the fourth season episode "It's Only Rock and Roll".

** In a straight version, several mini-episodes such as ''Christmas Trees'', ''Licensed To Drill'' and the ''Comic Relief Special'' have never been released on VHS or [=DVDs=].
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Jim Broadbent was John Sullivan's original choice for the role of Del Boy. While failing to get the role, he did still appear within the show as DCI Slater, who made three appearances - all highly memorable.
** Enn Reitel, Robin Nedwell, and Billy Murray were also considered possible candidates for the role of Del Boy Trotter, before it went to Creator/DavidJason.
** Also, the fifth season finale "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" was originally written to become the final OFAH episode with Del leaving England with his friend Jumbo Mills to run a car business in Australia, thus launching a planned spin-off series called ''Hot-Rod'', which would've been all about Rodney running Trotters Independent Traders with Mickey Pearce.