Only Fools and Horses' Lost Archive Reveals 66 Never-Seen Scenes

Only Fools and Horses fans have erupted in delight after the premiere of The Lost Archive documentary, a two-part special celebrating the sitcom’s 45th anniversary ^[1]. The film reveals 66 previously unseen clips, along with nearly 100 other gems such as rushes, outtakes, and behind-the-scenes material, sourced from original 16-millimetre film reels.

Among the highlights is a never-before-seen scene from the 1989 Christmas special, Jolly Boys’ Outing, where Del Boy’s coach explodes due to a faulty in-vehicle radio—supplied by D B Trotter himself ^[1]. Another long-lost moment features Uncle Albert recounting how he escaped a shark after a wartime sinking in A Royal Flush, a scene that Sir David Jason, 86, said was a 'nice piece of characterisation' he wished had made the final cut.

Raquel’s failed nightclub audition in Class Of '62, an impromptu football match in Jolly Boys’ Outing, and Del Boy’s mistaken arrest after ripping off a policewoman’s blouse in the 1988 special Dates are also among the rediscovered moments ^[1]. Tessa Peake-Jones, who played Raquel, admitted she didn’t even remember filming some of the scenes, calling the experience 'odd' and 'like watching a different person'.

The footage was rescued by former BBC producer and comedy archivist Richard Latto, who said it was a miracle the original recordings survived—given the BBC’s practice of wiping tapes to save money, including the widely reported claim that moon landing footage was overwritten with horse racing ^[1]. This specific claim, however, has not been confirmed.

Cast members including David Jason, Tessa Peake-Jones, Gwyneth Strong, and director Tony Dow reunited to reflect on the material, with Jason acknowledging the painful cuts made under time constraints during read-throughs ^[1]. The story was first reported by Daily Mail Showbiz and Daily Mail.