Les Dennis plays the role of Grandad in the theatre show (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
This article contains affiliate links. We will earn a small commission on purchases made through one of these links but this never influences our experts’ opinions. Products are tested and reviewed independently of commercial initiatives.
After more than 1,000 performances on the West End, the Only Fools and Horses musical is hitting the road after announcing the end of its run.
Based on the hit BBC sitcom, which ran from 1981 to 1991, the production stars Tom Bennett as loveable rogue Del Boy Trotter, Ryan Hutton as his hapless brother Rodney and Les Dennis as the much-loved Grandad, after he took over the role from Paul Whitehouse last year.
Described as the ‘feel-good, family celebration of traditional, working class London life’, it first hit the stage back in 2019 and later achieved the milestone of becoming Theatre Royal Haymarket’s longest running show of all time.
However, after four years, it is set to end in April.
Paul Whitehouse – who co-wrote the stage show alongside Jim Sullivan, the son of the late Only Fools creator John Sullivan – said it had been ‘an unbelievable four years for the whole cast’.
‘We’ve consistently played to packed houses and received standing ovations night after night – the audiences have been incredible,’ he added.
The original TV series ran for a decade (Picture: BBC / IMDB)
With a six-month project from May onwards, he acknowledged that it ‘felt like the right time’ to say goodbye to Del and the gang for the time being.
Nonetheless, this isn’t the end as there’s a UK tour on the cards, with more details to be released later this year.
Paul added: ‘We hope to bring the show back into the West End at some point in the future.
‘But for now, there are just three months to get a ticket to see us at the Theatre Royal. Bonnet de douche!’
More: Trending
The sitcom is still a roaring success three decades since it finished on TV, with memorabilia fetching hefty prices at auction.
An original bottle of Peckham Spring water, which was signed by Del Boy (played by Sir David Jason) and featured in the 1992 Christmas special episode Mother Nature’s Son, was sold for £6,000.
Want to get tickets to one of the final shows on the West End? Only Fools And Horses The Musical is booking through to April 29 via Ticketmaster here.
Only Fools and Horses is streaming on ITVX.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Secret discounts and seat hacks: How to get cheap theatre tickets
Snap up tickets soon!
