First Episode Only Fools And Horses
Right then, sit down. Let’s talk about the best first episode of a sitcom ever. We’re going back to 1981. That’s the year Only Fools and Horses hit our screens. It started wit...
Right then, sit down. Let’s talk about the best first episode of a sitcom ever. We’re going back to 1981. That’s the year Only Fools and Horses hit our screens. It started with an episode called “Big Brother.”
Picture it: a Peckham council flat. It’s a total dump. The wallpaper is fighting a losing battle.
And there he is. Derek “Del Boy” Trotter. In his sheepskin coat and dubious jewelry. He’s already a legend, even in minute one.
This episode introduces us to chaos. Del is trying to sell “one-way mirrors” to a pub landlord. Spoiler: the mirrors are just regular glass.
But the real magic? It’s the arrival of his younger brother, Rodney. Rodney is fresh out of prison. He’s grumpy. He’s embarrassed.
It’s a perfect dynamic. Del is all bluster and get-rich-quick schemes. Rodney is the reluctant, sensible one. The yin and yang of comedy.
Here’s a quirky fact: the actor who plays Rodney, Nicholas Lyndhurst, was twenty years old. But he looked about fifteen. He had to wear a wig to look older!
Can you believe it? That wig is a character in itself. It’s a constant source of jokes.
The episode has a hilarious subplot. Grandad is trying to cook a meal. It involves a chicken that might be prehistoric. The fire alarm is more active than the plot.
The dialogue is pure gold. Del tells Rodney: “This time next year, we’ll be millionaires!” It’s the first time we hear that iconic line. It lands perfectly.
Why is this episode so fun? It sets the rules. You learn that the Trotters are terrible at everything. Except being a family.
They are essentially dysfunctional and broke. But they stick together. That’s the secret sauce.
Let’s talk about the van. The infamous three-wheeled Reliant Regal. It’s yellow. It’s flimsy. It’s practically a cardboard box on wheels.
Miracle Of Peckham Quotes
In “Big Brother,” the van is already a wreck. It breaks down. It gets towed. It’s a comedy prop that becomes a star.
The humor is low-stakes but high-energy. Del tries to sell stolen car stereos from a suitcase. They are all for a Mini Metro. The car in the pub carpark? A Rolls Royce.
The failure is magnificent. You root for them because they fail so gracefully. They never learn. That’s the joke that never gets old.
Another fun fact: the episode was originally supposed to be a one-off. A single pilot. The BBC wasn’t sure about it. Imagine a world without Only Fools. Horrifying, right?
The show’s creator, John Sullivan, wrote it in a tiny room. He based Del on real market traders he knew. The speed of the dialogue is amazing. It’s rapid-fire.
Listen to how they talk. Finishing each other’s sentences. Arguing over nothing. It feels like real family bickering. It’s sharp and fast.
There’s a moment where Del lectures Rodney about being a “hard man.” He fails instantly. A small boy intimidates him. Pure comedy gold.
The episode is brimming with physical comedy. Del falls over. Grandad burns something. The doorbell is broken. It’s a symphony of silliness.
You see the flat in all its glory. The plastic palm tree. The bar that nobody uses. The clashing décor. It’s a time capsule of the early 80s.
But it’s timeless too. The struggle to make a quick buck? That’s eternal. The embarrassment of having a weird brother? We all get that.
The episode ends on a typical note. The scheme fails. They are back to square one. But they are laughing. Or at least, Del is laughing.
Watch Only Fools and Horses (1981) TV Series Online - Plex
Rodney is sulking. Grandad is confused. The van is smoking. It’s the perfect formula.
Why should you watch this first episode today? Because it’s a masterclass in character setup. You know everyone immediately. No boring introductions.
It’s also remarkably clean. No swearing. Just brilliant wordplay and timing. It proves you don’t need bad language to be hilarious.
The episode is only about thirty minutes long. It flies by. You will laugh out loud. It’s scientifically proven to improve your mood.
So, grab a cuppa. Find this episode. Watch Del try to sell a “Russian space pen.” It’s just a regular pen with a sticker on it.
The audacity is beautiful. The confidence is blinding. Del Believes his own hype. And we love him for it.
The first episode is a promise. It says: “You are about to meet the most incompetent, lovable idiots in television history.” It keeps that promise for seven series.
Remember the moment Del puts his arm around Rodney? The genuine affection underneath the bravado. It’s there from the very start.
That’s why we care. We aren’t just watching a con man. We are watching a brother trying to be a father figure. It’s messy. It’s real. It’s funny.
In short: “Big Brother” is a tiny, perfect jewel of British comedy. It’s the birth of a national treasure. And it all began with a dodgy mirror and a stretch of a lie.
Go on. Watch it. You’ll thank me. And you’ll never look at a Reliant Regal the same way again. Lovely jubbly!
