Sir David Jason Reflects on the Lasting Influence of Derek Trotter

Sir David Jason, the esteemed British actor known for his role as Derek Trotter in “Only Fools and Horses,” has recently shared his reflections on the impact of the character on his life and career. Speaking with BBC Breakfast‘s Jon Kay on October 8, Jason candidly discussed how the character of Derek Trotter has become a significant part of his public persona, comparing it to being followed by a “ghost.”

During the interview, Jon Kay noted the parallels between Sir David’s upbeat nature and that of his character, prompting Jason to admit, “Yeah, I’m afraid it does. That Derek Trotter thing, he’s a bit of a ghost that comes along behind me like A Christmas Carol.” When asked whether he felt “haunted” by the character, Jason explained, “Haunted is perhaps too… no. He’s with me all the time, whether you call it haunted or not. I do say he’s on my back all the time, because wherever I go people recognize me as the character and you always get people who say, ‘Lovely jubbly!’ and all of that.”

Jason expressed mixed feelings about this enduring association, acknowledging the joy his work has brought to many, but also lamenting being primarily remembered for a single role. “Which only hangs me back, only upsets me slightly is because that seems to be the only thing that people remember me for. I’m delighted in one way that it’s reached so many people and they’ve enjoyed what I’ve done with the character, but I’ve done so many other things that everybody seems to have forgotten about. It’s like I’ve only ever played Derek Trotter,” he stated.

A significant regret for Jason is his unfulfilled aspiration to perform with the National Theatre. He expressed, “My real disappointment or regret, if you like, is I always wanted to be a National Theatre player. I always wanted to be on the stage of the national theatre. It was just that romantic image of playing those big productions with all those big, wonderful actors. That never happened.” Yet, staying optimistic, he added, “Well you wonder whether the old memory would be quite good enough. I could do it with the autocue things,” before light-heartedly inviting, “Hey! Yes, National Theatre, I’m available!”

In a related note, Sir David Jason also commented on his relationship with co-star Nicholas Lyndhurst, reflecting on how they’ve drifted apart over time. He shared with The Mirror, “He’s much more, how can I say, self-contained, perhaps, than he used to be. So, unfortunately, we don’t see each other as much as I’d like to. But that’s how things work out sometimes.”