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Only Fools and Horses documentary unveils first look at unseen footage of classic comedy

U&GOLD marks the sitcom's 45th anniversary with never-before-seen scenes from The Jolly Boys' Outing.

Rodney takes a phone call while looking over in shock at an explosion in the distance, reflected on his face as a faint orange glow

UKTV

Published: Tuesday, 8 September 2026 at 10:00 am

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U&GOLD has given fans of Only Fools and Horses their first look at never-before-seen footage from the sitcom, marking the show's 45th anniversary with a peek at unearthed scenes from The Jolly Boys' Outing.

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The release precedes two-part documentary series Only Fools and Horses: The Lost Archive, which launches in October, and is set to feature more seldom seen treasures from the history of the beloved sitcom.

Restored and scanned from original 16mm negatives, the material includes newly discovered scenes that did not make the original cut, among them moments of Boycie roasting Del Boy, sensible advice from Uncle Albert and more.

You can find the extended cut here, with new scenes indicated by a 'lost archive' stamp in the top right-hand corner. Watch now:

The documentary promises a fuller picture of creator John Sullivan's vision for one of the show's most cherished episodes.

First broadcast as the 1989 Christmas special, The Jolly Boys' Outing follows Del Boy, Rodney and the Nag's Head regulars on their annual coach trip to Margate.

With Del Boy around, things inevitably descend into chaos; a point that Rodney's wife, Cassandra, is making on the phone, just as their coach spectacularly explodes.

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The cause? A dodgy motor radio supplied by the smooth-talking salesman that begins "smouldering," by Boycie's description, just above the vehicle's fuel line.

Sir David Jason said of the unearthed footage: "I think the audience will find this very exciting and very interesting. I certainly did.

"A lot of bits of film that have never been seen before by anyone, except those who recorded it, so it's coming out fresh. I've really enjoyed seeing it all."

Previously, UKTV had dropped a teaser trailer for Only Fools and Horses: The Lost Archive – you can find that here too:

The two-part miniseries features a mix of never-before-broadcast scenes, studio rushes, newly discovered outtakes and location recordings.

The Lost Archive also draws on other classic episodes, including Mother Nature's Son, He Ain't Heavy, He's My Uncle and Time on Our Hands, plus an unseen opening scene from Class of '62.

Sir Jason (Del Boy), Tessa Peake-Jones (Raquel), Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra), Sue Holderness (Marlene), Steven Woodcock (Jevon) and Denis Lill (Alan Parry) have given brand new interviews for the project.

Meanwhile, behind-the-scenes stories will be expanded on by director Tony Dow, editor Chris Wadsworth, comedy archive specialist Richard Latto, Lovely Jubbly co-author Mike Jones and Only Fools and Horses Appreciation Society chairman Perry Aghajanoff.

Only Fools and Horses: The Lost Archive is coming soon to U&GOLD, Sky TV and NOW. You can sign up to NOW from £4.99 a month.

Add Only Fools and Horses: The Lost Archive to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

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Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of David Craig, smiling against a lime green background.

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.

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