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1. 1) The first ever episode was broadcast on the 8th September 1981.
2. 2) The person singing the theme tune is none other than the shows writer and creator John Sullivan.
3. The song Hookey Street played over the end credits is sung by Cockney duo Chas and Dave.
4. 4) Wilfred Bramble was a rumored choice to play Grandad.
5. The exterior shots of Nelson Mandela House were shot in Bristol and not Peckham.
6. Denzils last name is Tulsa
7. Grandads full name is Edward Kitchener "Ted" Trotter.
8. Though never mentioned on screen Triggers real name is Colin Ball.
9. The shows original title was "Readies" British slang for money.
10. Jim Broadbent was meant to play Del Boy before David Jason took the role, Broadbent was later cast as bent copper and Del boys old school friend Roy Slater.
11. Buster Merryfield was previously a boxer and a bank manager before taking up acting later in life.
12. The first series rated badly at first but after a repeat showing during a BBC technicians strike it became a huge hit.
13. The episode "Time on our hands" where the trotters finally become millionaires still holds the record for the highest UK audience of a sitcom episode. It reached 24.3 million viewers.
14. There is a never been televised episode titled "License to Drill" which was a short educational episode meant for schools. It featured Del, Rodney and Grandad discussing the topic of oil drilling.
15. In the first ever episode as Del enters the Nags Head a familiar voice is heard saying hello. It sounds very similar to that of the voice of Raquel who Del would eventually meet years down the line.
16. A prequel series titled Rock&Chips was broadcast in 2010 the series showed the early years of the Trotter family in Peckham.
17. The chandelier scene in A Touch of Glass was based on a true story told to John Sullivan by his father.
18. There was only one attempt at the infamous chandelier scene as the cost of the chandelier was over £6,000. Lyndhurst and Jason were told to keep a straight face throughout the scene or else they would be fired
19. Eastenders Jake Wood who played Max Branning in the soap appears as Rodney's work assistant in the episode The Jolly Boys Outing.
20. Only two episodes takes place entirely outside of the Trotters flat, "The longest night" and "Cash and Curry"
21. There was talks of a spin off series in the 80s called "Hot Rod" focusing on Rodney surviving without his brother Del who would have gone to Australia with Jumbo Mills.
22. Dels catchphrase ‘Lovely Jubbly' was taken from an advertising slogan for an orange drink called Jubbly.
23. Denzils wife Corrine was only seen in one episode, the actress died 2 years later of a drug overdose.
24. Five different actors have played the part of Damien Trotter.
25. If Del boys Aussie mate Jumbo Mills looks familiar thar is because the actor Nick Stringer appeared in an earlier episode buying a clapped out banger off Delboy.
26. The role of Danny Driscoll was originally written for OFAH fan Anthony Hopkins but he was unable to appear due to the filming of The Silence of the Lambs.
27. Del Boy was set to appear on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire rather than the fictional game show Goldrush but there was an issue regarding the television rights.
28. Before his passing John Sullivan had planned one final episode which would see Del Boy celebrate his 70th birthday.
29. A spin off series in 2005 titled The Green Green Grass ran for four series.
30. Lennard Pearce, whilst touring with a play in the thirties, met and spoke with Adolf Hitler.
31. Dels local doctor Robbie Meadows was played by Ewan Stewart he later appeared in the Oscar winning film Titanic playing First Officer Murdoch.
32. The market that appears in the shows title sequence is Chapel Market in Islington London.
33. John Sullivan used the title "Only Fools and Horses" previously for an episode of Citizen Smith the first series he ever wrote.
34. Raquel was only meant to appear in one episode "Dates" but John Sullivan brought her back the following year where she became a regular.
35. Dels iconic D Signet ring originally only cost 50 pence.
36. David Jason found filming in front of a live studio audience every week a very stressful and scary experience.
37. Tessa Peake Jones (Raquel) married the man who played adult Damien in the episode Heroes and Villains.
38. Apart from Del and Rodney Trigger is the only other character to appear in the first and last episode of the show.
39. Carry on legend June Sims appeared in the episode “The Frogs Legacy” as Triggers aunty Renee Turpin.
40. The final episode was broadcast 25th December 2003.
Only Fools and Horses celebrates its 40th anniversary on the 8th September 2021.
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