1. Home
  2. TV
  3. Only Fools And Horses
  4. Episodes
  5. Series 3
  6. Episode 2
Only Fools And Horses. Image shows from L to R: Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst), Del (David Jason), Grandad (Lennard Pearce). Copyright: BBC.

Only Fools And Horses

BBC One sitcom about two market traders. 64 episodes (7 series), 1981 - 2003. Stars David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Buster Merryfield, Lennard Pearce and others.

Dates is repeated on Gold on Saturday at 11am.

Series 3, Episode 2 - Healthy Competition

Rodney has become disillusioned with being Del's look-out, and announces his intention to set up business with Mickey Pearce.

Further details

Del is unimpressed but gives him his share of Trotters Independent Traders - £200. By the end of the week Rodney has cornered the market in used lawn-mower engines, and Del does his best to soften the inevitable fall of the boys' new empire.

Rodney is taking stock of his life, and at the age of 24 he is disappointed to find he has only risen to become Del's look-out while they're on the make with dodgy goods.

After a bit of soul-searching - during which Del narrowly escapes the Old Bill while Rodders was lost in thought - Rodney breaks some big news to Del that he's set up a rival business with Mickey Pearce.

Shocked and hurt by this, Del warns him that if he wants to stand on his own two feet, then the price is total independence from the TITCO cash flow; including beer money.

Later at an auction, Del warns his Little Bruv not to buy Lot 37, but Rodney doubts his brother's generosity - thinking that he wants the lot for himself - and he buys Lot 37 unseen.

It turns out that Lot 37 is a bunch of broken lawnmower engines that Del had sold in the first place, and after Mickey Pearce uses their meagre profits for a trip to Benidorm, Rodders is soon back as a partner in Trotters Independent Traders.

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 17th November 1983
Time
8:30pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

    More data

    View more broadcast data

    See more by becoming a BCG donor or Pro subscriber
    This content is exclusive to BCG Pro subscribers and BCG Supporters. Join them and get extra features including this episode's audience figures and further repeats data.
    Already a donor or subscriber? Sign in

    Cast & crew

    Regular cast
    David Jason Del
    Nicholas Lyndhurst Rodney
    Lennard Pearce Grandad
    Patrick Murray Mickey Pearce
    Guest cast
    Glynn Sweet Auctioneer
    Rex Robinson Harry
    Dev Sagoo Indian waiter
    Mike Carnell Young Towser
    Writing team
    John Sullivan Writer
    Production team
    Ray Butt Director
    Ray Butt Producer
    Chris Wadsworth Editor
    Mike Jackson Editor
    Antony Thorpe Production Designer
    John Sullivan Composer

    View related press

    See more by becoming a BCG donor or Pro subscriber
    This content is exclusive to BCG Pro subscribers and BCG Supporters. Join them and get extra features including press coverage related to this episode.
    Already a donor or subscriber? Sign in