Only Fools and Horses

The Only Fools and Horses star who still gets recognised ‘every day’ despite only appearing on 5 episodes

Even the more minor Only Fools stars are still enjoying the fame of the show

There can be little doubt that as far as sitcoms go Only Fools and Horses is one of the biggest in British TV history. Naturally this propelled main stars David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst to an incredible level of fame – so that almost anyone recognises them.

One of the things that is unique to Only Fools and Horses though is the level to which even the most minor characters were recognised and adored by fans. Characters like Boycie, played by John Challis, or Trigger, played by Roger Lloyd-Pack, also began to find their careers were defined by these characters and that they were recognised in the street long after the show came to an end.

But even characters who were in less than a whole season’s worth of episodes became recognised stars. Take Steven Woodcock, for example. Whilst appearing on a few different TV shows in the 80s, from Grange Hill to London’s Burning, you would have thought Steven’s big break was in 1990 when he landed a role on EastEnders as Clive Tavernier.

Jevon only appeared in five Only Fools episodes but fans still remember who played him (Image: BBC screengrab)

But speaking to the Daily Star last year, Steven revealed it isn’t his role in Albert Square that people remember him for, but instead his appearances as the character of Jevon in Only Fools and Horses – despite only appearing in five episodes in total.

Jevon was one of Rodney’s pals who appeared in episodes between 1988 and 1989 before Steven left the show after landing his EastEnders role. Jevon continued to be mentioned occasionally by characters in the show though even after he left it.

Now 57, he said last year: “There’s not a day I’m gonna go out and not get called ‘Jevon’ from across the street. Even the little kids, they say, ‘Jevon, you play Jevon, don’t you?’ You know, it’s constant”.

Fortunately Steven isn’t bothered by the attention, which you can definitely imagine getting annoying. He said: “I don’t mind it. I actually quite enjoy it. I was in the business, I was in television, and you’re going to be noticed. It’s wonderful to get noticed for something that people actually really appreciate. I love it, to be quite honest”.

The enduring popularity of the show still shocks Steven though, who probably like most of the cast, never dreamed it would become as iconic as it has done. He continued: “It’s surprising to me that after 40 years, we’ve still got young people who are really interested in the programme… five-year-olds that know I played the character of Jevon. It’s quite amazing to see a show that’s moved through the generations”.

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