Only Fools and Horses

1980s British tv sitcom

Del Trotter runs a family business called Trotters Independent Traders, but he tries to avoid any formalities, like licences, taxes or business ethics. The whole operation consists of a cluttered flat and Reliant Regal as the company van.

Only Fools and Horses is one of the classic British sitcoms (in 2004 it was voted number 1 in The Top 50 British Sitcoms public poll) set in not that glamorous part of London - Peckham - where Del Trotter, together with his brother Rodney and grandfather, runs one of many local businesses. To be exact he is not licensed, he tries to avoid taxes and is always on lookout for good deal... usually on selling faulty products. He would try anything to support his family and does not let silly things like ethics get in the way of profits. His brother, despite his two GCEs, is rather clumsy and comletely dependable on Del. They both live with their grandfather since their father left the family and their mother died.

Most of the episodes are built around the shady deals of Del and how sometimes they blow in his face and sometimes he outwits his competition. Up to series 5 it was one of the best comedy series of the era with colourful characters, interesting plots and great gags.

Unfortunately after few years of hiatus the series 6 was filmed in different format (50 minutes long episodes instead of 30) in which the plots seemed slower, the gags too rare and the atmosphere was moved from cheerful to somehow deeper like the creators would try to develop further the characters. Series 7 was kept in same format with even more serious overtones than series 6 and it was bit of a letdown.

Overall it is one of the best comedy series of 1980s, set in environment rather avoided before by the comedy creators (they are not even the working class, they pretty much below working class) and using the comedy talent of David Jason it became classic.

Rating	8.4
Funny	8 / 10
Entertaining	4 / 5
Characters	5 / 5
Nonrepetitive	4 / 5