Sir David Jason sacked by BBC - just hours after landing iconic Dad's Army role
ok.co.ukHe may be loved by millions as Del Boy Trotter from classic sitcom Only Fools and Horses, but Sir David Jason wasn’t always the massive star he is today, in fact he had one major setback very early in his career.
The actor, now 84 years old, was delighted when he got a starring role in sitcom Dad’s Army – now regarded as one of the true sitcom classics – but was axed from the BBC show just hours before filming began, following a bold move by the channel bosses.
David flew through his audition for the role of Lance Corporal Jones and impressed show creators Jimmy Perry and David Croft with his knack for playing older characters – the actor was only in his late 20s at the time while Jones was supposed to be a pensioner.
A last-minute decision by BBC boss Bill Cotton's decision saw him replaced by actor Clive Dunn. "I was cast at 12 o'clock and sacked by three,” David recounted recently.
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