Only Fools and Horses

Only Fools and Horses legend John Challis made ‘touching’ gesture to co-star ‘Lovely’

ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES icon John Challis left a Benidorm co-star moved by his "touching" gesture which showed his dedication to the role.

The late Only Fools and Horses legend John Challis, who sadly passed away last September aged 79, was remembered fondly by Benidorm co-star Carol Decker, who made a cameo appearance on the comedy with the actor, after he sought her out personally to be there. His role required him to poorly sing a T’Pau song on the ITV show, and John requested the singer to be part of the scene before she received a moving message.

Carol, 64, reminisced about the moment John approached her for the role in the episode, which aired in 2018.

The singer explained: “The late, lovely John Challis, he was in it [Benidorm] and he got in touch with me.

“He said, ‘my character has to sing China In Your Hand really badly in an episode of Benidorm and I think it would be hilarious if you were in the club’.

“So the director said, ‘you’re on a hen night, you all come barrelling into this club, and there onstage is John murdering China In Your Hand. You don’t have to sing, you just have to look horrified’.”

John Challis

Benidorm: John Challis made a sweet gesture to a co-star (Image: Getty)

John Challis

Benidorm: John starred in the comedy from 2015 – 2018 (Image: ITV)

Talking to the Daily Star, she continued: “That’s what we did and it was just really, really fun.”

The T’Pau star also explained to the publication how John’s wife sent her a sweet video.

Showing John’s commitment to the role, his wife filmed him learning the song in his hotel room and sent it to Carol.

She described the gesture as “very touching” as she recalled the moment she received the comical clip.

John and his wife Carol

John Challis: The late star’s wife shared a touching image (Image: twitter.com/BeingBoycie)

John Challis

Only Fools and Horses: John starred in the classic comedy (Image: Getty)

The actor, who was best known for playing Boycie in the classic comedy Only Fools and Horses, died following a battle with cancer.

Sharing the news last year on Twitter, his family confirmed he died “peacefully in his sleep”.

Making a name for himself as the iconic, snotty character in the sitcom, John went on to appear in several other shows.

He starred in the spin-off series The Green Green Grass, as well as Coronation Street and Doctor Who.

It had been revealed earlier in 2021 that the actor had been diagnosed with cancer two years prior.

He went public with the news after cancelling his One Man And Boycie tour.

At the time, his tour promoter said: “Due to ill health, John Challis’s tour is cancelled with immediate effect.

“John received a cancer diagnosis two years hence and is not fit to perform.”

John became a well-known character in Benidorm, appearing as Monty Staines from 2015 to 2018.

A month after his death, John’s wife, Carol, shared a heartfelt message for her late husband.

Using his Twitter account, she posted a photo of the actor kissing her cheek.

She wrote: “Goodbye for now, my darling wonderful man.”

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