Del Boy on Boycie

Sir David Jason was on tv this morning talking about the death of John Challis and how great he was as Boycie:

David said: “One of the things I always measure an actor by is the difference between how they are in real life and the parts that they play. So it comes as a bit of a surprise sometimes to people that John Challis was such a kind, and such an ordinary, loveable sort of chap. He was totally different to the character Boycie that he played. A lot of people tend to think that was John. But it wasn’t. That was him just [showing] the skill that he had as an actor to portray Boycie the way thay he did.

He also repeatedly expressed his shock over Challis' death, which is almost reassuring to someone like me. Challis dying is sad of course, but he was 79. Jason is 81, and there's something comforting about people that old being surprised when a contemporary dies. (Of course there's the opposite too 🤣)

Also, something nobody else wants to say is that now whenever a member of the cast dies, we know Del Boy, being 81, could be next and at any time. I for one will take some time today to really appreciate the brilliant character Jason & creator John Sullivan gave us.