Only Fools and Horses

‘Loved him like a grandfather’ Inside Only Fools’ star’s relationship with Lennard Pearce

ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES fans were treated to an inside look at the relationships between the cast. Nicholas Lyndhurst had a particularly close bond with the late Lennard Pearce.

Only Fools and Horses continues to be a British staple in the world of sitcoms and Channel 5 shared a special documentary called We Love Only Fools and Horses. During the show, which included insight into off-screen relationships, viewers were reminded of the death of Grandad actor, Lennard Pearce. Rodney Trotter actor Nicholas Lyndhurst was particularly distraught after his passing in 1984.

Lennard Pearce starred in the final years of his life as Grandad in Only Fools and Horses.

He joined at the start of the comedy in September 1981 right up until his death, part-way through the series, in December 1984.

Production was underway for the episode Hole in One when he died and scenes that he had filmled before his death were reshot.

His character was replaced by Uncle Albert (played by Buster Merryfield) and the episode was put back in the series.

The sitcom included Grandad’s funeral, which took place shortly after actor Pearce’s own funeral.

Only Fools and Horses: Main cast
Only Fools and Horses: Nicholas Lyndhurst loved Lennard Pearce (Image: BBC)

Only Fools and Horses: Rodney and Grandad

Only Fools and Horses: Rodney and Grandad shared many scenes (Image: BBC)

Steve Clark, author of Only Fools and Horses: The Official Inside Story, explained the genuine emotion felt by the cast.

He said: “In real life the cast and crew had only been to Lennard’s real funeral recently.

“Then they were back filming one down the road. But John wrote it so carefully.

“Of course it’s sad, poignant, moving, and then he quite brilliantly has the gag of the hat that’s gone into the grave.”

There was one cast member who was impacted by the star’s death significantly more than others.

Only Fools and Horses: Del and Grandad

Only Fools and Horses: Del and Grandad shared some brilliant jokes (Image: BBC)

Lennard was seen by Nicholas as the grandad he never had, and it was revealed he took the loss badly.

Director Tony Dow explained: “It was a tricky time, obviously we were all sad.

“But Nick genuinely, really really upset and didn’t come out of it for quite some time.

“I think he loved Lennard as a grandfather, I think he thought he was the grandfather that Nick never had.”

Only Fools and Horses: Grandad's funeral

Only Fools and Horses: Grandad’s funeral was an iconic moment (Image: BBC)

Lennard died following a second heart attack while the BBC sitcom was being filmed.

In a different Channel 5 documentary, Only Fools and Horses: Secrets and Scandals editor Chris Wadsworth recalled the news.

He said: “It was terrible, it wasn’t just the character who had died, we were saying goodbye to a really nice gentleman and a great character.”

Lennard had been in poor health while filming Only Fools and Horses and he was rushed to the Whittington Hospital after suffering a heart attack.

Two days later, the show’s scriptwriter John Sullivan paid him a visit and said he would be able to return to the show once he had recovered.

However, after leaving the hospital, he suffered a second heart attack at his flat in Archway and died aged 69.

Following the funeral of Grandad, Del Boy (David Jason) is seen with his arm across Grandad’s empty armchair.

Rodney accuses Del of being ‘over’ the death and grief of losing Grandad and it appears Nicholas was equally as torn up.

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