British Comedy Guide
Only Fools And Horses. Image shows from L to R: Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst), Del (David Jason), Grandad (Lennard Pearce). Copyright: BBC
Only Fools And Horses

Only Fools And Horses

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC One
  • 1981 - 2003
  • 64 episodes (7 series)

Sitcom about two market traders, Del Boy and his brother Rodney. Stars David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Buster Merryfield, Lennard Pearce, Roger Lloyd Pack and more.

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Series 5, Episode 3 - The Longest Night

While out shopping at Top-Buys, the Trotters are taken to the supermarket manager's office believing that they have won a prize. Instead, they are held hostage when an armed robbery goes wrong.

Preview clips

Further details

Del, Rodney, and Albert are apprehended as shoplifters by an overzealous security guard at the Top Buy Supermarket. And things get worse when they're taken to the manager's office and realise that they've lost their receipt for the goods.

Shortly after, Tom the security guard brings a cocky shoplifter, Lennox Gilbey, into the manager's office, where he promptly pulls out a gun and demands money from the safe.

Unluckily for Lennox, the safe is on a time-lock and due to the dodgy watch he's wearing, he's a good hour later than he planned - and the safe doesn't open again until 8am the next morning.

After being held hostage throughout the night, Lennox realises that he knew Del when he was a kid. By preying on the would-be robber's guilty conscience, Del persuades Lennox to reveal that the plan was hatched by Tom and the supermarket manager to get at the £60,000 stored in the safe.

The three accomplices beg Del not to go to the police, and instead, he arranges for Lennox to get a job as security guard at the supermarket after Tom's impending retirement - he also makes sure he wins a £1,000 prize as the millionth customer in the store.

Broadcast details

Date
Sunday 14th September 1986
Time
8:35pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
David Jason Del
Nicholas Lyndhurst Rodney
Buster Merryfield Uncle Albert
Guest cast
John Bardon Tom Clarke (Head of Security)
Max Harvey Mr. Peterson (Manager)
Vas Blackwood Lennox Gilbey
Jeanne Mockford Kiosk staffer
Catherine Clarke Checkout girl
Writing team
John Sullivan Writer
Production team
Mandie Fletcher Director
Ray Butt Producer
John Jarvis Editor
Chris Wadsworth Editor
Mark Sevant Production Designer
John Sullivan Composer

Video

You Plonker

The Trotters are held hostage when an armed robbery goes wrong.

Featuring: David Jason (Del), Nicholas Lyndhurst (Rodney), Buster Merryfield (Uncle Albert), Vas Blackwood (Lennox Gilbey) & Max Harvey (Mr. Peterson).

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