Only Fools and Horses

Only Fools and Horses star ‘may never return to TV’ following son’s death

The 60-year-old has not acted on-screen since the passing of his 19-year-old son Archie

TV legend Nicholas Lyndhurst may never return to our screens again, according to one of his close friends.

The star who lives in West Wittering, Sussex and is well known for playing the character Rodney Trotter in the popular British sitcom Only Fools and Horses. lost his son Archie, 19, after he suffered a brain haemorrhage back in 2020.

Now a pal fears the actor won’t take on another starring role, the Daily Star exclusively reports.

Writer Laurence Marks, who has known Nicholas for more than 25 years, believes it is unlikely he will ever return to showbiz.

He told the Daily Star Sunday: “Nicholas underwent tragedy. It must have broken his heart. It would break anyone’s heart.

“He has always kept himself to himself and now he’ll do that more than ever. Now he’s lost his son, he’ll never come out again. I doubt we will see him do any more acting.

Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) and Del Boy Trotter (David Jason) pictured outside Whitemead House, Bristol with their trusty Reliant Robin during filming for Only Fools and Horses
Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) and Del Boy Trotter (David Jason)

“I would like to say we will see him act again, but I don’t think we will. We will have to live on the visual memories of him and we have loads of them. We have got to be grateful for that.”

Nicholas has had a glittering career in TV for almost five decades.

Millions know him for playing hapless Rodney Trotter on Only Fools And Horses and Gary Sparrow on Goodnight Sweetheart.

Over the years he has also helped make New Tricks, The Two Of Us and Butterflies big hits.

Laurence, who worked with Nicholas on Goodnight Sweetheart, rates him among the best in the business.

He said: “Working with Nicholas was a pleasure, a real pleasure. He was a very quiet, very shy, very reserved, very talented actor. He’s very normal, which is unusual for actors.

Archie Lyndhurst died aged 19.
Archie Lyndhurst died aged 19.

“He was a really good person to work with because he was really on the ball all the time.

“I would think that as a living performer, nobody has been in shows that have had bigger views than him.”

Nicholas appeared alongside his late son in a 2019 episode of CBBC’s So Awkward.

Archie’s other roles included recurring appearances as a younger incarnation of comedian Jack Whitehall in various TV programmes.

These included BBC Three sitcom Bad Education, in which he was seen as a younger version of Whitehall’s Alfie Wickers character.

A rep for Nicholas has said the actor isn’t ruling out a return to the spotlight.

In a statement, they said: “Mr Lyndhurst will continue his career with any parts and scripts that attract him. He continues to constantly receive offers.”

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