Only Fools and Horses : Season 9 Episode 3 Sleepless in Peckham

I read that and assumed his name was Colin Clockwise 😂 it's got a proper ring to it I must say lol

jonny bowerbank

Totally agree with Colin, Clockwise is an awesome movie, My Hero is great and Rimmer from Red Dwarf also plays the lead role in the Bittas Empire and The Thin Blue Line with Rowen Aitkinson is another great show

Jason Edwards

You should take a look at Rock and Chips. Lyndhurst playing Rodney's father Freddy the Frog. Not great but interesting and only 6 episodes. I also vote for Goodnight Sweetheart which becomes a good solid sitcom. My Hero may interest you a superhero sitcom staring Dougal from Father Ted. John Cleese had a great comedy film called Clockwise which is a must see.

Colin Bayley

This isnt just a sitcom for us, its a national institution, its been a joy watching you experience it, i challenge anyone to watch it and not fall in love with all the characters and the show, a show that can have you howling with Laughter then crying your eyes out the next, i have seen every episode many many times, i still laugh and i still cry, the elevator scene where Del gets Rodney face his feelings has me in floods everytime. Sir David Jason is a national treasure, but i also feel Nicholas Lyndhurst is too he has a great show of his own involving Time Travel called "Goodnight Sweetheart" you should check it out. People say this show is about trying to make money, i say its actually a show about two brothers who love each other very much, Lovely Jubbly!

Morg106

I will always defend the last three episodes. For Del, it’s always been family over money - every time Rodney or Grandad or whoever has been in a bit of bother, Del’s helped them at the expense of money. So the true finale being - the family are financially safe again, but Rodney and Cassandra finally having their baby girl named after Joan, their mum, that’s a truly beautiful ending. Family first always.

Sam Dilks

Loved watching every episode with you Josh, hope we can get around to "Rock n Chips" sometime.

Contex - It's Just A Ride

Can't believe you've watched them all. I joined you're Patreon because of you watching Only Fools, have seen them all over the years but i've thoroughlly enjoyed reliving them & seeing you're reactions to what i consider the best british sitcom/comedy of all time. Only Fools and Horse's ages like a fine wine, i still don't go a few weeks without watching an episode. I won't be going anywhere now its over though, enjoying watching other shows that i've not seen & reliving some of my favourites over the years. Hope your well Josh!

Scott Williamson

:/ that's mental. Get onto Patreon about it if you haven't already, I doubt Josh will be able to do anything because it sounds like Patreon's issue. Hopefully they'll be able to refund you.

BelladonnicHazeyJaneII

Massive agreement with Goodnight Sweetheart, though I did rewatch the first episode it's pretty terrible. I know it's all setup but it's like a bad sitcom until the 'reveal' of the gimmick, everything after that is great though, one of my faves!

LyingSecret

you should try The Green Green Grass its an Only Fools & Horses spin off with Boycie & Marlene, all so Goodnight Sweetheart is pretty good it's with Rodney from Only Fools who plays a time traveler plus Not Going Out with Lee Mack at least after the first season is very funny

I updated my subscription this month I had to go for the cheapest one this month because I am low on cash I did the transaction it failed so I did it again and went through that time. I looked at my bank account today and the 1st transaction cost me £6 and the 2nd coat me £10 this is unfair. I signed up for £3 NOT £16!!!

Alex james

I'm British and had never seen this show before. Watched it for the first time along with you. It's been a fun ride.

Liam

Lol so true!

After Work Reactions

It is a great show!

After Work Reactions

Thanks bud I appreciate that!

After Work Reactions

Thank you do much bud I appreciate the continued support! I am bummed out OFAH being over but looking forward to something new!

After Work Reactions

enjoyed watching the Show from start to finish do you know about a decade ago there was plans underway to make a American Version but that idea got unplugged very quickly

Paul Hynes

Out of all the reactions, this is the only one that I'm going straight back to start, to watch all the shows again from the beginning, which tells you how much I enjoyed it!

BigChanChan

The was the Channel 5 one last year as well, called "We Love Only Fools and Horses". It's still available on My5.

Keith Pratt

Make sure you vote on the poll!

After Work Reactions

Thanks bud I am bummed it is over but looking forward to something new as well.

After Work Reactions

Thanks bud I appreciate that. I will for sure check out the doc and the shows will be added to the polls do make sure you vote!

After Work Reactions

I will have that on a poll soon bud make sure you vote.

After Work Reactions

I agree. It peaked at season 6 and then tailed off. I think in many ways it was a victim of its own success. The pressure then starts to make the stories bigger, less believable and exaggerate everything (Miami Twice, etc.). I think the end of season 7 would have been a good place to have ended it to have kept the quality high. Time On Our Hands was the next obvious place to finish it.

Thanks for the support bud, this was one of my favorites I have watched so far. I do agree this show is one of a kind. Take care man have a great weekend.

After Work Reactions

Lol 😂😆

After Work Reactions

Thanks for the suggestion bud I will be adding those shows to my polls for you all to vote on.

After Work Reactions

Oh wow good timing! Thank you I am looking forward to checking it out.

After Work Reactions

Thanks bud I will put it in a future poll!

After Work Reactions

Thanks bud. I really liked this show and will definitely give it a rewatch in the future.

After Work Reactions

Thanks bud, I enjoyed the show a whole lot.

After Work Reactions

I know I am bummed it is over but also excited for a new show.

After Work Reactions

I have that on my list bud I will add it to a poll soon. Make sure you vote!

After Work Reactions

It’s been a ride rewatching these with you Josh! The documentary is worth looking at and others have suggested the prequel Rock & Chips (only 3 episodes) set in the early 60s. James Buckley (Jay from the Inbetweeners) is playing a teenage Del and Nicholas Lyndhurst himself plays Freddie “The Frog” Robdal.

Ben Marshall

I know 😒

After Work Reactions

It's been a great show man.

After Work Reactions

I know I am bummed about it.

After Work Reactions

Spot on analysis. "Not a moment wasted in time on our hands" is exactly right. Where as this ep was 70 mins of mostly random plot in order to get us to the point.. alas.. when we got there.. we still loved it. So overall it worked. I still choke up, after the 20th time watching it so.. job done.

Jamie Roberts

Oh, wow! What a journey we've been on with you and this show, Josh! For many of us, we're watching it all for the umpteenth time, but it's been an absolute pleasure to re-watch it with a new viewer and one who genuinely has invested in the characters and the stories of the Trotters and Peckham. It was 64 episodes which doesn't sound that many but over a 22 year trajectory, through the Granddad Years, the Albert Years, the Raquel, Cassandra and Albert Years, and then the Post-Millionaire Years here, we really have seen an entire generation pass from episode 1, Big Brother, to episode 64, Sleepless in Peckham. John Sullivan wrote every single word of this show. Every single one, save perhaps the odd ad-lib from an actor, and yes, true, not every episode is on top form. A Royal Flush is just off, and John Sullivan admitted so afterwards, and as with any show, you can't expect every episode to be an absolute corker, but most are so well written and with characters you genuinely care about. I found your comments at the end about how you prefer this ending to the one where they win the millions in 1996 interesting. I think you do have a point in terms of the narrative, how winning and then losing the millions was important to teach Del a lesson in a sense. I also agree that leaving Rodney and Cassandra after the miscarriage felt a bit cruel almost and incomplete. I don't think any of us feel the the narrative of the show was hampered by their losing their fortune as it definitely would have happened. Del would've cocked it up - it's just the sort of bloke he is! Haha! The issue I have between Time on Our Hands and Sleepless in Peckham is just the strength of the writing itself - not the story, but the actual dialogue and interplay, and to be honest, the performances in a sense too, comedically. For me, whilst Time on Our Hands didn't offer the sort of fully-rounded closure that Sleepless in Peckham did, it just felt so much more tightly-written, every scene had a purpose, it was rich (in more ways than one) with excellent jokes and also the bittersweet pathos of John Sullivan having already acknowledged that being a millionaire hadn't quite worked out as Del expected with the scene back at the flat where they're all there saying goodbye to it. The simpler ending of their walking off into the sunset just felt cleaner and more bittersweet somehow. We did pine for them probably because Del's aim of being a millionaire had been met but it was also the death of the life he had always known, There was a beauty to that sadness in a sense. I do love that Cassandra and Rodney finally became parents in Sleepless in Peckham, and also with Albert leaving them the money and their finally acknowledging Rodney's real father..... these are all very strong points. The problem I have with this final episode is that there are also some really weak points and I only say this as an avid fan of the show and as someone who admires John Sullivan's writing immensely. It felt as if, in terms of comedy, John was scraping around for ideas. The episode was kind of all over the place and without direction, the weird scenes where Del and Rodney drunkenly devise a screenplay..... this was a rehash of the "Rhino Loose in the City" scene from Video Nasty. Only it wasn't as funny IMHO. Then we get a subplot with Boycie's off-the-cuff comment about Marlene's lack of endowment turning into her getting a breast enlargement... and some quite unpleasant dialogue in the pub between them all, particularly Cassandra, Raquel and Marlene who've barely had a crossword up until now but seem to despise each other in this episode. It wasn't very OFAH IMHO. Trigger's "blinking" joke was just too much. He has been as thick as two short planks from episode 1 but they stretched it too far here and it didn't make me laugh at all. It just felt like there was a heck of a lot of "filler" in this episode, to make up a 70 minute run-time, where in Time on their Hands, there wasn't a second wasted. It may have left some aspects of the Trotters' life unanswered and incomplete, but it's a much better written episode comedically and structurally for my money. Kudos to John Sullivan for the dramatic elements of this final episode though - they were the best bits and like you Josh, I find the moment Rodney asks Del if he's anything like Freddie and Del gives him several reasons why he's nothing like him very touching. So beautifully written and poignant that, and extremely well acted too. I'm so happy that you'll be watching the documentary next week and I would also not complain if you did, as so many others have suggested, move on to Rock and Chips as it's such an integral companion piece to Only Fools and Horses, but if you don't and we get a poll, I will be voting (as it would seem many others will) for One Foot in the Grave. It'd be a perfect replacement for Only Fools and Horses - an extremely well-written sitcom (with every word written by one man only, this time David Renwick) that, while darker than OFAH, certainly develops its characters into the same sort of fully-fleshed out people the way OFAH did. I think you'd love it and I really hope it does well on the next poll.

Ash Jeffries

I’m Can’t believe that’s the only fools and horses reactions finished ! I hope you have enjoyed the show as much as we have enjoyed your reactions.

Lee

I really hope that One Foot In The Grave is the next show to be reacted to

jack

Hey Josh! There are 4 Only Fools documentaries: - The Story of Only Fools and Horses: Behind the scenes documentary featuring cast and crew interviews. (2002) - Britain’s Best Sitcom: Only Fools and Horses (2004) - Only Fools and Horses: The Favourites. David Jason presents a countdown of the top 20 Only Fools and Horses episodes as voted for by the viewers. (2015) - The Story of Only Fools and Horses: The new documentary series features rare and unseen footage from the Trotter archives and specially re-created moments from Del Boy's family and friends. Gold explores every aspect of Britain's most loved sitcom, with exclusive access to the key cast members, including David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, the series gives rare insights into the show and what went on both on and off camera. The Story of Only Fools And Horses reunites cast members, rebuilds some of the sets and features rare and previously unseen material. (2017) (60 minute - 6 part series).

AWR93

Wow Josh what a journey. It's OFAH Inbetweeners and the list on your polls, films and tv that hooked me to join your house of entertainment and let's not forget the smooth running of getting us the programmes for so long, any hiccups you seem to find a way around much appreciated, keeps me looking forward to most evenings. Roll on next show hopefully One foot in the grave.

Andrew G

Gutted it's over. A year and half ago I never would have imagined I'd love spending every Friday night watching an American bloke watch Only Fools and Horses but it's been great 😁 I've looked forward to every Friday evening since you started these. With the exception of a couple of episodes I'm less keen on (Video Nasty, Royal Flush) I've re-watched them all over the years, some of them numerous times and it's still my favourite programme ever. The mix of comedy, emotion, great acting and loveable characters is fantastic. And Delboy and Rodney's brotherly relationship is perfectly written. OFAH means so much to me because even though it started before I was born, I grew up with it and remember so many times watching as a family and sometimes with my lovely grandad who also loved the show and who died a few years ago. No other TV show has meant as much to me as OFAH and it's been great watching them in order and sharing it with you, Josh. Despite the different era and culture etc I'm glad it resonated with you, I knew you'd grow to love it :) It'll be interesting to see what will fill OFAH's enormous shoes, I'm hoping for One Foot In The Grave. I didn't appreciate how good it was as a kid but after seeing it as an adult, I changed my mind completely. Thanks again Josh, I didn't see the documentary so I'll still have that to look forward to next week :)

BelladonnicHazeyJaneII

Enjoyed every moment of this reaction series, fab work Josh. I look forward to what comes next.

will doyle

I do like the way this episode ends, but part of me wishes they had made it shorter, and cut out most of the first half

Pkirby422

And now it's all over, I hope you realise why this is often rated as the best ever British comedy series. While it has laughs throughout, it also has drama highs and lows that touch your heart. It's been quite the ride watching this again along with you. Glad you enjoyed it. :)

(Just) Steve

It’s funny when you go back and look at a series 1 or 2 episode how young they look

Mike Doel

Exactly what I was going to suggest!

(Just) Steve

Probably the best British comedy series EVER.

Hannah

This has been a fantastic journey Josh, my Friday nights will no longer be the same! Luckily Saturday nights with Friday night Dinner is ongoing! I would once again like to recommend Still Game to you as its the best comedy to come out of Scotland, and I genuinely think you would like it, just please get it on the polls and watch a clip. Thank you for this journey, I've enjoyed it so much

Ross Stewart

100% to this, Rock and Chios is a great prequel, and explained the whole Freddy the Frog situation alot better!

Ross Stewart

I'd dig that too.. It's essentially Fools and Horses anyway :D

Phil Spicer

Don't forget there is a three part prequel which tells a lot of the backstory of the Trotter family, Rock and Chips. Three one hour episodes set in the 1960s. I highly recommend those. In Rock and Chips you'll see some faces you're familiar with too. Say no more. Lovely Jubbly!

Phil Spicer

i love rock and chips and think its an absolute tragedy the final 4 episodes never got made

Josh

Really sad you've reached the end side but I've enjoyed watching you go through the whole show. Fun fact for you, there was going to be a special in 2011 to celebrate Del's 70th but John Sullivan died before it could happen

Matty Bate

I know a lot of people don't really dig the last few episodes but they bring closure to the whole story and the Trotters brothers' back story. Rodney all the way through the series never really faces up to his past but in this last episode he finally does. A lot of families have those secrets which they know but it's too uncomfortable or painful to face up to. I have really enjoyed this while series. Thank you Josh for your brilliant reactions.

Phil Spicer

I'm not sure what your plan is Josh, but in the next few weeks, I think you should forego any polls, and just watch the prequel "Rock & Chips". It's not about ignoring the wishes of your patrons, it's simply because it's only three episodes long and it's a nice way to end one of your longest series of reactions. If you leave it to a poll it could be a very long time before it's chosen, and the momentum of your journey with the characters may be lost. Personally I would like to see you watch Rock & Chips, but I admit I'm more of a casual OFAH fan! I like it a lot, but I'm not as dedicated a fan as most on here, so maybe the general consensus is that Rock & Chips isn't that good, I'm not sure, but I liked it. So obviously you should do what you feel is best, but I think it would be a good idea to just go ahead and watch them the three Friday's after the documentary, I don't think people are so impatient that they can't wait another month for the poll. Just my two cents!

Ben

Not to sound soppy and emotional but you are right, it did put us in a good mood. And was a great waynto spend a Friday evening in a shitty year of lockdowns galore. Fridays wont be the same.

Ryan Lynch

Josh... do you think this has been the best show you have reacted to? Not every episode is a 9/10 but even in the "poorer" episodes there was always something you enjoyed. But more to the point you always seemed to relate to things here more than other programmes. Not the specific growing up in a flat, but the situations they were in, or being 'working class', the love, the loss, the grief. I have enjoyed being on this journey with you and watching it all from the start. I grew up with the later episodes, and always thought the earlier ones were dated and boring... but seeing them properly here proven me wrong. Not many will agree, but I think you should try Rock and Chips - the prequel to this.

Ryan Lynch

Truthfully, I always skip the last three episodes when I re-watch the series. Watching them back with you I think they're certainly not as bad as I remembered but I still feel they lost a bit of the magic. I think the only other episodes I skip are A Royal Flush, Video Nasty and Miami Twice. The rest are all great for me. It's such a fantastic show and still stands the test of time. It's nice seeing you and Bxkid7 watching it for the first time. It brings back that magic of watching it for the first time for me.

I’ve never seen someone’s first reaction to watching this show so it’s been great seeing yours and watching it with you every week from the beginning! Always put me in a good mood :)

Zoë

Thank you for sharing this journey with us Josh. I hope you can understand now why Only Fools, and the Del Boy character especially, is ingrained in UK pop culture and references. It was something that spanned years of our lives, and appealed to several generations. It's amazing to think that it was solely written by John Sullivan, who was a genius. I agree that this was the perfect ending. At the time I was disappointed that Sullivan chose to continue the series after they became Millionaires, as I thought he was just trying to cash in on a few more episodes, but now I see how this one was far more satisfying. The Rodney and Cassandra story sorely needed to have some closure, and it was clear that Del Boy wasn't happy when he wasn't on the hustle. I think it was a perfect ending to have them all living comfortably, but still in the flat they lived in all their lives. It suited the characters far better! I don't think anything is going to match this on future polls, but I agree with a comment above that One Foot in the Grave is a decent substitute. Could I also suggest you put the Top Gear/The Grand Tour specials on the poll, as I think it's a very entertaining substitute for Fridays. At this moment there's 23 episodes worth (some being split into 2 episodes per special), each an hour long. And I'm sure by the time they are done with, at least one or two more episodes will have been released. So it would be a good long term choice to add.

Jay

I love the Green Green Grass. I know not many do but I think its great.

ALW

In an early episode they did talk about Freddie the frog, when they tried to find where “he” was buried cause it was actually gold, I think there may have been some continuity errors if you compared the two episodes but who cares really lol

Joe S

I think there was a documentary in 2002 and then one again in 2019, or much more recent anyway

Joe S

Ah don’t end it here watch Rock and Chips and you will see a Rodneys father properly. It’s really good

Austyn Shaw

I never dry them, either. Yeah, there was some OFAH docu on TV the other night ... didn't watch it coz I thought you might react to it, so I'll wait 'til then.

Hannah

thank you Josh for the hours of entertainment I’ve had watching along with you! I’m heartbroken this show is over, but I am so glad you enjoyed it. shows like this only come along once in a lifetime and I’m very happy I decided to become a Patreon and watch with you, all the best!!!

Sam Owen

So Josh...every time you wash the dishes, you then take them to Iraq to drip-dry? Wow!. That must cost a lot of money and take up a lot of time? hehe.

Hannah

Correct! Well that or Porridge imo.

Richard M

You could watch the prequel Rock & Chips. Just be aware it is not really a comedy but does star Nicholas Lyndhurst as Freddie Robdal. Green Green Grass is also pretty funny. Unrelated but I'm surprised that Open all hours hasn't been voted for yet (if it is even on the polls). Such a funny show and I believe was David Jasons breakout role prior to OFAH

No you aren't alone I always preferred this ending the miscarriage that Cassandra had always felt unfinished business for me and I don't think Del would ever have been truly happy being a millionaire, sometimes realising your dreams can be the worst thing to happen to you. They were both in a better place emotionally after this episode not millionaires but financially stable and although Del was no longer a millionaire he still achieved it in his life.

How fitting that it’s this week you watch the last week when it celebrated its 40th anniversary of the first episode. The documentary series is wonderful can’t wait to see your reaction to them and learn the context.

BR90s

One for Youtube reaction, they did a 10 min special episode for Comic Relief called "Beckham in Peckham" in 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7YBuMhKhXE

Steve King

you should react to Rock & Chips and The Green Green Grass aswell, the first is a prequel series and the second is a spin-off series focusing on boycie and marlene

JokerDanny

Loved every reaction :) ..You should give Rock n Chips (OFAH prequel) a go in the poll. Its not too bad, good insight to Dels early life

Ant Morrow

A great episode; I am delighted you enjoyed it, and there is certainly something to be said for leaving things as they are as a finale, knowing they're together and with all their friends around them. That does have a definite appeal. But what a ride its been!

ALW

What a journey Will be a hard one to beat It’s been a pleasure with the laughs and the tears enjoying this all again Thank you Josh, it’s been emotional 😌

Gareth Hood

End of an era!

Josh

A word of caution should anyone mention 'The Green Green Grass' - the Boycie spinoff. Whilst it was created by John Sullivan he only wrote a small number of episodes and wasn't nearly as good as a result. I mean it's perfectly enjoyable and it if appeared here one day, that's fine, but I believe that there are quite a few far more compelling shows for Josh to discover first. On that note... One Foot in the Grave please and thanks!

BertFredStan

Can’t believe we’ve got through all 64 episodes! Every Friday I loved rewatching these and laughing along with Josh! Maybe Josh could watch the OFAH prequel, with only 3 episodes of ‘Rock and Chips’.. or maybe the Only Fools and Horses documentary?

AWR93

And that’s a wrap! Glad you enjoyed one of the UK’s most loved sitcom that celebrated its 40th anniversary this week. How about that for timing Josh! I have to say the ones that stick with me are Rodney going on holiday as a child, Jolly Boy’s Outing and Modern Men. What could replace this show??? Tricky but only one comes to mind which I think will carry on the Friday comedy gold and another very much loved British sitcom. Similar amount of episodes/specials it has to be One Foot In The Grave. Who knows though the poll will decide but look forward to future reactions and if One Foot doesn’t win I DON’T BELIEVE IT!

A

The day has come. 😥

Daryl

It's been great getting to relive this show.

JokerDanny

The last episode 😭😭

Josip Buretic