David Jason says he regrets only being remembered for Del Boy: “It’s like I’ve only ever played Derek Trotter”

nme.com:

Only Fools And Horses.The 84-year-old, who began playing the iconic character in 1981, told BBC Breakfast host Jon Kay on Tuesday (October 8) that, as much as he enjoys seeing the impact of the character, people seem to have “forgotten” about his other career roles.Kay compared Jason’s positivity to that of Del Boy saying, “That sense of positivity sounds very like a certain Derek Trotter,” leading Jason to reply, “Yeah, I’m afraid it does.

That Derek Trotter thing, he’s a bit of a ghost that comes along behind me like A Christmas Carol.”“That’s interesting that you’re calling Del Boy a bit of a ghost in your life,” Kay said. “Do you feel you’re a bit haunted by him?”Jason, who was given an OBE in 1993 and a knighthood in 2005, answered, “Haunted is perhaps too … no.

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.”He explained that it slightly “upsets” him because it seems as though Del Boy is the only character people remember him 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,” he continued, “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.“My real disappointment or regret, if you like, is I always wanted to be a National Theatre player.