A Royal Flush is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 25 December 1986. It was the second feature-length edition of the show, and the fifth Christmas special. Only Fools and Horses is a British television sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan, and made and broadcast by the BBC. Seven series were originally broadcast in the UK between 1981 and 1991, with sporadic Christmas specials until 2003. ... John Sullivan OBE (born December 23, 1946 in Balham, London, England) is the writer of several British sitcoms including the immensely popular Only Fools and Horses as well as Citizen Smith, Dear John, Just Good Friends, Roger Roger, and The Green Green Grass. ... is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... Only Fools and Horses is a British television sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan, and made and broadcast by the BBC. Seven series were originally broadcast in the UK between 1981 and 1991, with sporadic Christmas specials until 2003. ... is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ...

Synopsis

As Del Boy flogs cutlery to the local market crowd, Rodney spots an attractive woman, and abandons his lookout position to talk to her. But Trigger is there to help Del get away from the police. At Sid's cafe, the woman introduces herself to Rodney as Lady Victoria Marsham Hales. She also mentions that she lives in Covington House, Upper Stanameer, Berkshire, and that her mother died in a skiing accident nine years ago when Victoria was only 12. Once Victoria leaves, Rodney decides to go the library to find out more about Victoria's family. Derek Edward Trotter (born July 12, 1948 in Deptford),[1] more commonly known as Del Boy, is the fictional lead character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. ... Rodney Charlton Trotter (born 26 February 1960[1] in Peckham, London) is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst. ... Colin Ball (DOB: 22nd April 1948), better known as Trigger (because he looks like a horse), is a character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. ...

Later, back at Nelson Mandela House, Rodney is reading a book when Del and Albert come in. Rodney tells them all about Victoria, and her father, Sir Henry Marsham, 14th Duke of Maylebury. This makes him a second cousin to the Queen. Del thinks that if Rodney marries Victoria, then the Trotters will finally become millionaires. He also helps Rodney get tickets for the opera Carmen. Albert Gladstone Trotter (1920-1999) was a character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. ...

On the night of the opera, Rodney and Victoria arrive, only to see that Del has also shown up, along with June Snell, mother of one of Rodney's many ex-girlfriends, Debbie, from "Happy Returns". Del and June ruin the night by stuffing their faces with orange juice, liquirice allsorts, crisps, peanuts, ice-cream, bothering the other audience members, and Del whistling along to the music, which distracts the performers. Rodney and Victoria leave abruptly, while Del convinces himself that he made a good impression. Happy Returns is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. ...

The next day, in order to help Rodney make a good impression when he stays at Covington House for the weekend, Del and Albert take him to a fancy tailor to get him some formal clothing to make him the perfect country gentleman.

But on Saturday, while everyone else at Convington House is dressed casually, Rodney is dressed like a real wally! He has a go at the clay pigeon shooting, but gets distracted when Del and Albert show up. Del also gives the clay pigeon shoot a try with Iggy Higgins' single barrel pump-action shotgun, leaving a good impression. Victoria's father, Lord Henry, offers Del something to eat. Del thinks it's an invitation, and accepts.

That night, Rodney asks Del to behave like a gentleman. Del promises that, and keeps talking to Lord Henry about Leonardo Da Vinci. Meanwhile in the kitchen, Albert is getting along well with the kitchen staff, and tells another one of his boring stories, about how his grandmother's brother was the safety officer on the RMS Titanic, to the young footman. At the dinner table, Del gets himself so drunk, he even tells everyone about Rodney's suspended drug sentence, and a joke about an Irish bloke on a skiing holiday. Lord Henry has finally had enough and tells Del that Rodney and Victoria, who will be leaving for America, are not getting married. Del discusses with Lord Henry on how to get Rodney and Victoria to break up in Lord Henry's study. For other uses, see Titanic (disambiguation). ...

Later that night, back at the flat, Rodney is in the lounge alone, just staring out the window, when Del comes in very hung over. A furious Rodney then relates to Del how he feels and how he has felt for many years as Del has always tried to use his younger brother as a way of making money, never caring about Rodney and never willing to even invest properly in his ventures. Rodney then tells Del that Lord Henry offered him £1000 to leave Victoria but he refused. Del reveals that he knew about this as he suggested it. In the end he manages to convince Rodney to forgive him, and the Trotter brothers make up on a handshake.

Episode cast

Sir David John White, OBE known by his stage name David Jason (born 2 February 1940) is a highly regarded English actor, admired equally for his dramatic work as for his comedy roles. ... Nicholas Lyndhurst (born April 21, 1961 in Emsworth, Hampshire) is an English actor. ... Buster Merryfield in Only Fools and Horses Buster Merryfield (November 27, 1920 - June 23 1999) was a British actor who became a national institution after joining the hit BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses in 1984, as the sea faring Albert Trotter, affectionately known as Uncle Albert. ... Roger Lloyd Pack (born February 8, 1944) is a British actor. ... Jack Hedley is a British actor, best known for his performances on television. ... Diane Langton, born in Somerset, is an actress. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Peter Tuddenham (born 27 November 1918 – 9 July 2007[1]) was a British actor who provided the voices of Zen, Orac and Slave, computers on the science fiction TV show Blakes 7. ... Robert Vahey is a British actor, best known for his role as Bill Sayers in the 1980s television series Howards Way. ... Kate Williams is a British actress who trained at Londons East 15 Acting School. ...

Trivia

• As revealed in Steve Clark's book, The Only Fools and Horses Story, John Sullivan was not happy with this episode, feeling that it seemed to show Del Boy in a negative light. Whereas Del was always seen to be a lovable rogue, in this episode, there were some scenes where he came over as boorish and offensive.
• This episode was originally broadcast with no studio laughter. A subsequent repeated version exists with an added laughter track, but was heavily edited for future DVD and TV broadcasts. However, the episode is possibly the least repeated on the BBC, although it is shown fairly regularly on UK TV Gold and has been released by the BBC in DVD format.
• In this episode, Del and June appear to be on a "date" when they accompany Rodney to the opera. However, Del and June parted company under unpleasant circumstances in the episode Happy Returns, when they found out they had cheated on each other as teenagers leading inadvertently to the death of Del's best friend. There is no explanation as to how or why Del and June got back together, nor is June ever seen again after this episode.

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... John Sullivan OBE (born December 23, 1946 in Balham, London, England) is the writer of several British sitcoms including the immensely popular Only Fools and Horses as well as Citizen Smith, Dear John, Just Good Friends, Roger Roger, and The Green Green Grass. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... UKTV Gold, known as UK Gold until March 8, 2004, is a British television channel, originally launched on November 1, 1992 (coincidentally, the day before Channel 4s 10th birthday) as a joint venture between Thames Television and the BBC to show their classic archive programming (see: rerun). ... DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is a popular optical disc storage media format. ... Happy Returns is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. ...

Quotes

• Man at the market: ...they can't be top quality, they're too cheap
• Del: Too cheap, how can they be too cheap you wally?
• Man at the market: here, I'm not a wally
• Del: No? What are you doing then, an impression?

Shortly after, originating from the background as the scene focuses on Rodney and Victoria

• Same annoying man: ...yeah but do you get a guarantree?
• Del: You do, yeah you do get a guarantee, I'll guarantees you get a smack in the mooey if you keep on pal, just go away and annoy someone else...

Errors

• The Trotters' return to London from Berkshire is implausible as Del and Rodney both had been drinking, Del particularly so, and Albert wouldn't have been able to drive the van because he's not insured, as mentioned in "Danger UXD".

Danger UXD is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. ...

External links

• "A Royal Flush" at bbc.co.uk