Comedy is back for Christmas

The last two episodes of Only Fools And Horses are set to be shown this Christmas.

BBC1 chiefs have been sitting on the shows - part of a trilogy that started last Christmas - for several months.

But now star John Challis, who plays Boycie, says they are planning to screen one episode on Christmas Day and the other on New Year's Day.

The 60-year-old actor told Teletext: They are going for the optimum audience.

"It's become a sort of Christmas institution - it just isn't the same without Only Fools."

The first instalment of the trilogy received a lukewarm reaction from critics, although the show was again named best comedy by readers of TV Quick last week.

But Challis said: "The two episodes are really back to the traditional ducking and diving of the old shows.

"They're full of misunderstandings and things going wrong."

The BBC says it is a "possibility" that the shows will be aired over the festive period.

Published: 16 Sep 2002