Only Fools and Horses legend Sir David Jason slams plans to demolish tower block featured on the show
ONLY Fools and Horses legend Sir David Jason has slammed plans to demolish the tower block used for the classic Brit sitcom.
Earlier this month it was revealed that the Harlech Tower, or Nelson Mandela House as it was known on the show, would be knocked down to make way for a development promising thousands of homes.
But Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter actor David, 78, thinks that the iconic building, which saw his family plot japes on the hit series, should be protected as a historic landmark.
He said: “Of course I think it should be a listed building. What a shame. But they are not going to listen to me are they?
"It was a proper block of flats and it was of it’s time, which was fine and is probably why we used it. so that is why we used it. It was great.”
Speaking at the premiere of Cirque du Soleil’s new show Totem he added: “Del Boy would say, ‘Next time this year Rodney we will be billionaires.’ And he’d be right. They are now aren't they now?”
The tower block is in Ealing, west London, 13 miles from where the classic sitcom was set in Peckham, south-east London.
Ealing Council granted outline planning permission for 1,950 homes in December, with more than 3,000 planned for the future. Half of the new homes will be sold to private buyers.
The rest are earmarked for affordable housing for the estate’s 5,000 existing residents.
By the time they are finished in the mid-2020s, they are expected to be worth about £1billion to the developers.
MOST READ IN TV & SHOWBIZ
Discussing the forthcoming West End only Fools musical, which sees comedian Paul Whitehouse, 60, play Del Boy on stage, David added: “I have not been involved, but I have been invited. I will go and see it.
“It is best Paul gets on and does it as he feels as I did. It will be weird to see someone else play the characters, of course it will but I wish them well. It is a great idea.
"I say ever forwards and ever onwards.”
On Wednesday Sir David enjoyed a big night out with his daughter — who is six decades his junior.
The veteran actor, 78, became a first-time dad at 61 when Sophie-Mae, now 17, was born in 2001.
The pair posed for snaps on the red carpet at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
They attended the premiere of Cirque Du Soleil’s Totem show.
Discussing the birth, David said last year: “My wife Gill was 40 and I was 60 when we let fate decide on us having a baby. And a year later our daughter Sophie Mae was delivered at 9lb 6oz.”
He was previously in a relationship with actress Myfanwy Talog, from 1977 until her death from breast cancer in 1995.
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]