Sir David Jason’s private persona to be explored in Only Fools and Horses: The Lost Archive
New two-part documentary will examine the actor's private side alongside his iconic on-screen characters.
A new two-part documentary titled Only Fools and Horses: The Lost Archive will pull back the curtain on Sir David Jason's private personality, offering unseen clips and interviews with cast and crew as part of a 2026 U&Gold special. The program aims to chart the evolution of the actor's most famous roles while exploring how public perception of his character differs from his off-screen demeanor.
Jason, 85, has spent decades in the public eye, most notably as Del Boy Trotter in Only Fools and Horses and as Jack Frost in the long-running series. In online discussions about the actor, fans have debated what he is like off camera. Some Digital Spy forum posts described him as quite a rude person, while others countered that he is shy and private, choosing to let the work speak for itself.
Beyond online chatter, anecdotes from casual encounters with Jason have circulated on social platforms. A Reddit thread recounts a story of an encounter with the actor at a family gathering, where he initially declined to perform Del Boy but eventually delivered a full impression that energized the room. The accounts illustrate how fans' perception can diverge from a private, introverted side, even for a performer whose on-screen energy children and adults alike have come to know from decades of work.
The Lost Archive will reunite viewers with many familiar faces from the series, including Tessa Peake-Jones (Raquel), Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra), and Sue Holderness (Marlene), along with Steven Woodcock (Jevon) and Denis Lill (Alan Parry). The two-part program will feature new interviews with the cast and crew, revisit long-lost moments, and include unseen clips and behind-the-scenes footage while paying tribute to Only Fools and Horses creator John Sullivan, who died in 2011. The project promises a retrospective that blends memories with fresh insights into how the show was conceived, produced, and sustained across its peak years.
Viewers will be able to watch the documentary on U&Gold in 2026, as producers emphasize the enduring appeal of the comedy classic and the breadth of Jason's body of work across genres. The project also signals renewed public interest in the broader Only Fools and Horses legacy, inviting longtime fans and new audiences alike to reconsider the series through the lens of its creator's impact and the long arc of its star's career.
Together, the discussions surrounding Sir David Jason highlight a cultural moment when public perception and private reality occasionally diverge, especially for performers whose most enduring roles are larger than life. As Only Fools and Horses continues to resonate, The Lost Archive promises to add depth to the conversation by presenting a more nuanced portrait of a performer who has helped shape British television for more than four decades.