1. Home
  2. TV
  3. Only Fools And Horses
  4. Episodes
  5. Series 5
  6. Episode 3
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.

Series 3, Episode 7 is repeated on Gold today at 9:20pm.

Series 5, Episode 3 - The Longest Night

While out shopping at Top-Buys, the Trotters are taken to the supermarket manager's office believing that they have won a prize. Instead, they are held hostage when an armed robbery goes wrong.
Preview clip

Further details

Del, Rodney, and Albert are apprehended as shoplifters by an overzealous security guard at the Top Buy Supermarket. And things get worse when they're taken to the manager's office and realise that they've lost their receipt for the goods.

Shortly after, Tom the security guard brings a cocky shoplifter, Lennox Gilbey, into the manager's office, where he promptly pulls out a gun and demands money from the safe.

Unluckily for Lennox, the safe is on a time-lock and due to the dodgy watch he's wearing, he's a good hour later than he planned - and the safe doesn't open again until 8am the next morning.

After being held hostage throughout the night, Lennox realises that he knew Del when he was a kid. By preying on the would-be robber's guilty conscience, Del persuades Lennox to reveal that the plan was hatched by Tom and the supermarket manager to get at the £60,000 stored in the safe.

The three accomplices beg Del not to go to the police, and instead, he arranges for Lennox to get a job as security guard at the supermarket after Tom's impending retirement - he also makes sure he wins a £1,000 prize as the millionth customer in the store.

Broadcast details

Date
Sunday 14th September 1986
Time
8:35pm
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
    Buster Merryfield Uncle Albert
    Guest cast
    John Bardon Tom Clarke (Head of Security)
    Max Harvey Mr. Peterson (Manager)
    Vas Blackwood Lennox Gilbey
    Jeanne Mockford Kiosk staffer
    Catherine Clarke Checkout girl
    Writing team
    John Sullivan Writer
    Production team
    Mandie Fletcher Director
    Ray Butt Producer
    John Jarvis Editor
    Chris Wadsworth Editor
    Mark Sevant Production Designer
    John Sullivan Composer

    Video

    You Plonker

    The Trotters are held hostage when an armed robbery goes wrong.

    Can't see a video here? Watch this clip on bbc.co.uk

    Featuring: David Jason (Del), Max Harvey (Mr. Peterson), Vas Blackwood (Lennox Gilbey), Nicholas Lyndhurst (Rodney), Buster Merryfield (Uncle Albert).

    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