Sir David Jason addresses Nicholas Lyndhurst’s Frasier performance with surprising remarks

Sir David Jason has spoken about his former Only Fools and Horses co-star Nicholas Lyndhurst’s performance in the Frasier reboot

Only Fools and Horses star Sir David Jason has shared his verdict on his former sitcom co-star Nicholas Lyndhurst’s role in the Frasier reboot.

David played Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter in the legendary BBC comedy with Nicholas playing his younger brother, Rodney Trotter, until the show came to an end in 2003. Nicholas joined another legendary comedy last year, this time across the Atlantic in celebrated US sitcom Frasier, starring Kelsey Grammer.

The show had a reboot in 2023, with Nicholas becoming one of the main characters as the comedy returned on Paramount+, with the British actor playing mischievous university professor, Alan Cornwall. While there was some fanfare for the return of the hit show, Sir David has admitted that he hasn’t found time to watch a single second of it.

Speaking to The Times, Sir David said: “Winter evenings have us hunkering down in front of the fire and watching television. I haven’t seen the reboot of Frasier yet with Nick Lyndhurst, my old co-star from Only Fools and Horses, but I’m sure he will have done a great job.”

Sir David went on to speak about the legacy of Only Fools and Horses and his privilege at being one of the star members of the cast on show that was watched by millions at its peak and has led to him being labelled a “national treasure”. Speaking about being involved with the comedy, Sir David said: “Being part of Only Fools and Horses is a privilege. I know how much it has meant to so many people. I hope I never take the title “national treasure” too seriously — I call myself the ‘leg end’, but it’s humbling that people see me that way.”

During a documentary about the making of Only Fools and Horses, Sir David revealed his true thoughts about his co-star, expressing: “You couldn’t have had a better co-partner than Nic. We liked and respected each other so much, we were genuinely good friends.”

Speaking about their friendship, in 2022 David said: “He’s much more, how can I say, self-contained, perhaps, than he used to be. So, unfortunately, we don’t see each other as much as I would like to. But that’s how things work out sometimes.” Touching on their heyday, Sir David reflected: “I miss it terribly. It wasn’t like going to work. It was going to have some fun with your mates. We loved each other.”