Only Fools and Horses Christmas special 2023: Where can I watch it?
ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES was a classic of Christmas time during its run from 1981 until 2003.
And now stars of the comedy - which featured Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst - are returning to screens for a new documentary, set to air over the 2023 festive period.
How can I watch the Only Fools and Horses Christmas special?
The special Only Fools and Horses Christmas documentary will air on Christmas Eve on Channel 5.
The show marks Sir David Jason's first major TV appearance since his hip replacement operation, which he underwent in early 2023.
A TV source told The Sun of the festive treat for fans: "It wouldn't be Christmas without the Trotters, so this is a great way for viewers to get their Only Fools fix.
";Producers were delighted when David was passed fit to appear following his surgery, so the special will be cushty for fans."
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How is David Jason doing now?
The news that Sir David required an operation was first revealed in August 2023.
The actor announced the news to fans himself when he was forced to pull out of an Only Fools and Horses event.
Jason, who was born in 1940, issued a statement telling fans he needed surgery to get "a new bionic body part fitted".
The convention that he had to cancel his appearance at was due to take place in October 2023 but has since been delayed to January 2024.
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During an appearance on Lorraine in November 2023, the legendary star gave fans an update on his condition.
Confirming that he was "on the mend", Jason said: "I'm having a little trouble getting the muscles back because I was so infirm for two or three weeks as it were."
He added, "I wasn't using the legs at all so that's where I'm at now [but] I'm getting it back!"
The next month it was confirmed that his recovery was going well enough to allow him to take part in the 2023 Only Fools and Horses Christmas special.
What will be included in the Christmas special?
Sir David Jason will be front and centre of the Only Fools and Horses 2023 Christmas special.
He and other cast members, alongside celebrity fans of the show, will discuss behind-the-scenes secret of the classic comedy.
Sir David is also expected to reveal which of the show's beloved festive episodes he believes is the best.
Jason's on-screen wife Tessa Peake-Jones, who played Raquel, will also appear in the episode.
Famous fans, including Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis and Strictly Come Dancing 2023 hopeful and newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy, will also be involved.
The show is called The Story Of Only Fools and Horses at Christmas and will run for 90 minutes.
When was Only Fools and Horses first aired?
The BBC aired 64 episodes of Only Fools and Horses between September 8, 1981, and December 25, 2003.
All episodes were written by John Sullivan.
The sitcom aired seven series between 1981 and 1991.
It also had Christmas specials in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2001, 2002, and 2003.
There has also been several special episodes of Only Fools and Horses that were shown during events such as Comic Relief and Sport Relief.
Several documentaries about the legendary show have been made.
A BBC documentary, The Story of Only Fools and Horses, aired in December 2002 and in 2017 a different documentary series with the same name was shown on Gold.
In December 2020 a special called We Love Only Fools and Horses was broadcast on Channel 5.
Similar to the 2023 special, this episode saw actors and crew from the show, as well as fans, speak about the series and why it was, and remains, so popular.
In 2019 the sitcom was turned into a musical.
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In 2023 it ended its West End run after four years - and more than 1,000 performances - at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
The production is set to tour in 2024.