Only Fools and Horses' biggest transformations – care home, cancer and dramatic new look

Only Fools and Horses is undoubtedly one of the best-loved British comedy series of all time.

Wrapping up in 2003, fans were devastated when the series, starring David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, came to an end.

Launching in 1981, David played the role of lead character Derek “Del Boy” Trotter and the series focused on him and his younger brother Rodney, played by Nicholas, running around Peckham trying to become “millionaires”.

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With hilarious episodes centring around Del Boy and Rodders, the two brothers would always be getting themselves out of a sticky situation.

Whether they were running from the police for selling dodgy gear, turning up at the wrong funeral, or having female trouble, Del and Rodders were always involved in a memorable storyline.

But what about where some of the lesser-known and remembered characters are now?

From battling cancer to looking very different, having a massive career U-turn and starring in EastEnders, scroll on to discover some of the biggest transformations from the series.

Mickey Pearce

Played by Patrick Murray, who is now 66 years of age, Mickey Pearce was the best friend of Rodney Trotter.

Often going out dancing together to pick up girls, the two pals were always as thick as thieves.

Although he was one of the main characters’ best friends, believe it or not, he only appeared in 20 episodes of the hit sit-com.

After his stint on the Peckham-based show that centred around a flat in a tower block, Patrick continued to act with him landing a role in Curse of the Pink Panther and The Firm.

He ended up retiring from acting though, with him becoming a cab driver working in Kent for a short while.

The actor was also a builder at one point and even a professional poker player.

In 2018 while appearing on Loose Women, Patrick revealed that he met his wife Anong in Thailand, with the pair welcoming a daughter, Josie.

And he recently revealed that he has been diagnosed with cancer for the second time and has undergone surgery to remove half of his liver.

In May 2022 how he had recovered after being treated for lung cancer, but he recently spoke of how he has been undergoing treatment after medics discovered a second primary cancer.

Denzil Tulser

Paul Barber played loveable Liverpudlian Denzil Tulser in the iconic British comedy series.

The laidback lorry driver often fell victim to Del’s get-rich-quick schemes, but still trusted the Peckham-born cheeky chappy.

With it now being around 20 years since the show came to an end, actor Paul looks completely different.

At 70 years of age, Paul now sports distinguished features, grey hair and a grey beard as well.

In the sit-com he had very short brown hair, but now it appears a little longer, with him even sporting dreadlocks in 2002.

After his Only Fools career, he made a cameo in the BBC’s Tracy Beaker spin-off series The Dumping Ground as a homeless man named George.

He later starred in the 2014 film One Night in Istanbul where he played a cab driver.

Damien Trotter

Damian Trotter was Del Boy and Raquel Turner’s son, who was born in the episode Three Men, A Woman And A Baby.

Played by six different actors throughout the series, Damien was known as the “devil child” by his uncle Rodney, who seemed to have an irrational fear of his nephew.

Ben Smith is one of the six boys who played the role of Damien, with him at the helm between 2001 and 2003.

He starred as Damien in the Only Fools and Horses Christmas specials – If They Could See Us Now, Strangers on the Shore, and Sleepless in Peckham.

Since appearing on the sitcom, Ben hasn’t left television screens, with the 32-year-old star now looking completely unrecognisable.

North-London-born Ben has popped up in the likes of Holby City, Silent Witness, Doctors, The Bill, Misfits, Casualty and the Doctor Who episode School Reunion in 2006.

Not only has he starred in the above, but in 2008 he joined BBC One’s EastEnders as Tegs Teague.

The character went on to cause havoc in Albert Square as the leader of a gang called E20.

And in 2019, Ben took on the role of Robbie Lennox in the TV drama Resistance, which was based in France during World War II.

Raquel Turner

Tessa is best-known for her portrayal of Del Boy’s love interest and partner of Raquel Turner.

She starred in the sit-com from 1988 until 1993, 1996 and then again from 2001 until 2003.

After her stint in the beloved British series, Tessa popped up in the likes of Midsomer Murders, Casualty, Holby City, The Bill, Up the Garden Path and So Haunt Me.

In 2009 and 2011 she took on the Sue Bond in the BBC daytime soap opera Doctors, and in 2013 she appeared in the Doctor Who Christmas episode.

Since 2014 she has appeared in Grantchester as Sylvia Maguire, the vicar’s religious housekeeper.

Tessa was with her partner Douglas Hodge, for 27 years before they separated in February 2013.

The couple have two children, Charlie and Molly-Rose.

Mental Mickey

Daniel Peacock portrayed Mental Mickey in the beloved BBC sitcom, with him popping up in just two episodes overall.

The 64-year-old TV star had a very dramatic career U-turn recently, with him trading the big screen for a care home.

Daniel currently works at the Hastings Court Care Home on the south coast – despite having had a glowing career in film and television.

With a career in acting spanning more than 40 years, the former Only Fools star who also starred in hit film Quadrophenia, got into his new career three years ago while his dad was suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s.

His father, Trevor Peacock, who was best-known for playing Jim Trott in The Vicar of Dibley, was in a different care home – and it was after seeing his father in the home that Daniel felt inspired.

Passing away in March 2021, it was seeing what his father endured that led to the drastic career change.

“Because my dad had been in a residential home, tragically, with the most awful disease Alzheimers, it was the first time I came face to face with this terrible condition and I wasn’t overly impressed with the care home,” he told MyLondon last year.

“So when I got here at Hastings Court, it was like a very impressive hotel,” he explained.

Adding: “I started to inject some entertainment and conversation between the residents and bringing them all together.”

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk