BBC shifts 1m Only Fools tapes

Del Boy would be pleased.

The BBC managed to knocked off a cushty million copies of Only Fools and Horses videos last year.

The sitcom is still one of the biggest money-spinners for the BBC's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, despite being 20 years old.

Sales of the 34 tapes were boosted by a two-for-one offer, the division's new annual report says.

And The League of Gentlemen is also mentioned as a top seller, with DVD sales especially strong.

About £96million of profits from BBC Worldwide were pumped into progamme-making last year, the report says, supplementing the licence fee.

As well as books and videos, it sells programmes such as The Weakest Link to overseas markets and is the third largest consumer magazine publisher in the UK.

Published: 11 Jul 2001