Only Fools and Horses: John Challis gave ‘permission’ for on-screen wife Sue Holderness to marry real husband
Co-star Sue Holderness has fondly remembered the Boycie actor
Only Fools and Horses actor Sue Holderness says she was “lucky” to have John Challis as her on-screen husband weeks after “Boycie” died of cancer.
The actor who played Marlene Boyce in the hit British sit-com could not speak highly enough of her late co-star who, she said seemed okay when they were filming only weeks ago, though he would get tired towards the end of the day.
Appearing on ITV’s Lorraine this morning (October 27), she also said she felt the actor was still around, whilst also sharing memories of their final times together.
She said: “A best friend. How lucky was I that John Challis became the other husband in my life.
“Less than four weeks before he died John and I were filming together all day.
“The end came very quickly. I can honestly say I do not think he’s gone.
“John will be loved forever, I really do not believe he’s gone.”
The actor also commented on her famous on-screen marriage to Challis, revealing that the actor had jokingly given her permission for her real marriage.
She added: “I am happy to report that John gave his permission to marry Mark Piper but I would only be on loan.”
She also said the last time she went on holiday with Challis was to a chateau in the south of France.
John Challis played Only Fools’ brutal second-hand car dealer Terrance Aubrey Boyce from 1981 to 2003, dying this year aged 79 after a long battle with cancer.
There has already been an outpouring of tributes for the actor, including from Del Boy actor David Jason who said: “He was a wonderful actor, a gentleman in the true sense of the word and I know he will be missed by so many.”
His widowed wife Carol Challis also recently posted “Goodbye for now, my darling wonderful man” following his funeral.
Holderness was appearing on the show to promote her new TV show Madam Blanc Mysteries which is on Channel 5 every Sunday from 9pm.
The EastEnders star said the new series gave her the same feeling the Only Fools and Horses script had given her when she first saw it.
