Only Fools’ Raquel star details ‘strange’ filming experience as she reunites with co-star
ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES actress Tessa Peake-Jones, who famously played Raquel in the hit comedy, explained she never filmed a single solo scene with co-star Gwyneth Strong, who played Cassandra.
The actresses appeared on Friday’s Good Morning Britain to discuss their new project with hosts Kate Garraway and Adil Ray. The duo, who rose to fame after landing roles in Only Fools and Horses, spoke with the ITV hosts about some of their fondest memories while filming for the David Jason sitcom.
However, despite appearing in a number of group scenes together, Tessa admitted they never filmed a scene together while on the show.
“Do you know what is lovely?” Tessa began. “We were saying again the other day, weren’t we?
“In that programme, we didn’t ever have a scene together.”
“Oh really?” Adil asked as the actress added: “That’s why this feels so strange.”
Only Fools and Horses: The Raquel star said she never filmed a scene with co-star Gwyneth (Image: Getty/ITV)
Only Fools and Horses: Tessa explained she only filmed group scenes with Gwyneth (Image: Getty)
“Everyone says, ‘It’s so lovely to be acting together again’, we didn’t really because we’re with our respective partners.
“We’d do big group scenes but we didn’t really have anything together.”
“I think we need a spin-off, don’t we? Come on,” Adil pleaded.
During Only Fools and Horses, Gwyneth’s character was married to Rodney Trotter (played by Nicholas Lyndhurst), while Tessa’s alter-ego wed Del Boy (David Jason).
The Only Fools and Horses stars appeared on GMB to chat about their new project (Image: ITV)
Gwyneth played Cassandra in Only Fools and Horses (Image: Getty)
The Cassandra star first appeared in the comedy in 1988 and stayed on the show until the very last episode.
Since Only Fools and Horses, she has appeared in several hit shows including Casualty, A Touch of Frost and EastEnders.
Tessa also joined the comedy in 1988 until it came to an end in 2003.
The actress also hasn’t been short of work since she left as she has featured in the likes of The Bill and Midsomer Murders.
“It ran for a long, long time and it’s been adapted by Jonathan Harvey and brought up to date really because it was a while ago that they did the radio.
“The two characters have stayed the same, essentially.
“They’re slightly younger this time, aren’t they?” Tessa chipped in.
She added: “It is just the two of us and at this stage of the rehearsals, it’s terrifying.”
When asked about being reunited, the actress said: “Acting is so lovely anyway but to get the chance to work with a very old chum, without being too sentimental but that happens so rarely.
“And not only to work with an old chum, it being a two-hander but literally two of us being on stage for the whole play.”
The duo went on to reminisce as they explained the Lorraine studio is the same place they used to film Only Fools and Horses.
