To mark 40 years of the classic sitcom

To mark 40 years to the day since the first episode of Only Fools and Horses, the BBC has released a new archive of previously unseen images.

The intimate gallery offers behind-the-scenes glimpses of the cast of the   comedy, as well as images from the most memorable episodes.

The comedy first broadcast on BBC One on September 9, 1981, with the episode Big Brother and ran for seven series and 16 Christmas specials until 2003, with the final episode of series seven attracting a record audience for a British sitcom of 24.3million viewers that still stands today.

Robert Seatter, the head of BBC History, said: ‘This cache of new photos reveals the genuine joyful camaraderie at the heart of one of the nation’s best loved sitcoms. Fans will love seeing the on set antics of the leading actors, as well as the paraphernalia of broadcasting on location of ever popular episodes.’

And Luke O’Shea, the archive collections manager, said: ‘These unique photographs show filming on location, set design and the cast and crew from the first episode to the last. It is brilliant to share these fantastic memories with the audience. 

‘To the best of our knowledge, these images have not been released or viewed previously and have now been fully restored for the enjoyment of fans of the show and of photography.

‘It is an honour to be the custodian of these images and to curate a collection that brings joy to the viewers.’

Click on any of the images below, from the BBC Photo Archive, to expand them. More information is available on the History Of The BBC website

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Published: 8 Sep 2021