Only Fools and Horses legend Sir David Jason may be one of the more iconic comedy actors, but he has stressed recently that he prefers to stay humble about his achievements.
The 84-year-old, best known for his beloved role as Derek “Del Boy” Trotter on the 1980s and 90s BBC sitcom, has opened up about one name he doesn’t like fans to call him.
The classic comedy, which aired from 1981 to 1991, is widely regarded as one of the best, with its popularity seeing several Christmas specials for more than a decade later – re-runs of which still delight fans more than 20 years on.
It made household names of Jason and his co-star Nicholas Lyndhurst, who played Del Boy’s brother, Rodney.
The roles saw the two actors accumulating multiple awards, and Jason was even knighted for his contributions to comedy back in 2005.
However, the actor explained how he doesn’t often like to be referred to as “Sir” despite his title.
“I’ve got a knighthood… It doesn’t make me feel that I’m special, or that you ought to get down on one knee when you speak to me because I am a Sir,” he reflected.
“I hardly ever use that title, though I have one.”
David Jason has made an admission about his career
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He continued: “What I’m sort of saying is I’m trying to let the success be with me but not change me,” he told the Daily Star.
“The most important thing is being able to keep your feet on the ground,” the veteran actor explained.
Touching on his humbling climb to fame, he added: “That journey that I’ve travelled to achieve such success, that I am very proud of in a way, the way that journey revealed itself it’s made me keep my feet on the ground.”
Jason won four BAFTAs throughout his career, including two for Only Fools and Horses.
The down-to-earth comedy legend has opened in recent years though about distancing himself from the iconic role.
Davis Jason admitted he prefers not to be referred to as ‘Sir’
PA
Just earlier this month, Jason admitted that while Del Boy is “with me all the time,” he does have one slight regret about the role, which he has become synonymous with since the show debuted in 1981.
“That Derek Trotter thing, he’s a bit of a ghost that comes along behind me like A Christmas Carol,” he went on.
BBC Breakfast’s Jon Kay, who was interviewing the beloved actor, replied: “That’s interesting that you’re calling Del Boy a bit of a ghost in your life. Do you feel you’re a bit haunted by him?”
“Haunted is perhaps too… no,” Jason responded, continuing: “He’s with me all the time, whether you call it haunted or not.
“I do say he’s on my back all the time because wherever I go people recognise me as the character and you always get people who say, ‘lovely jubbly! ‘ and all of that.”
On the impact of taking on such a legendary role, he added: “Which only hangs me back, only upsets me slightly because that seems to be the only thing that people remember me for.
“I’m delighted in one way that it’s reached so many people and they’ve enjoyed what I’ve done with the character, but I’ve done so many other things that everybody seems to have forgotten about. It’s like I’ve only ever played Derek Trotter.”
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David Jason is best-known for his iconic role as Del Boy Trotter
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Making a rare admission about how he felt he’s missed out on a dream, he continued: “My real disappointment or regret, if you like, is I always wanted to be a National Theatre player.
“I always wanted to be on the stage of the national theatre. It was just that romantic image of playing those big productions with all those big, wonderful actors. That never happened.”
It’s not the first time Jason has spoken negatively about his Only Fools role, having told The Star earlier this year: “Del Boy is a character that I can’t avoid.”