Writer Of Only Fools And Horses

Let’s talk about the genius behind Only Fools and Horses. The man who made us snort laugher at the Trotters’ misfortunes. His name? John Sullivan.

Sullivan wasn’t a posh TV writer from some fancy drama school. He grew up in a working-class London council estate. He knew the real Del Boys and Grandads of the world.

A Job He Never Wanted

Funnily enough, John Sullivan hated his first proper job. He was a filing clerk for the civil service. Boring, right? He’d sit there dreaming up funny dialogues instead of filing papers.

He started writing comedy sketches in his spare time. He sent them to the BBC, almost as a joke. To his shock, they bought one.

That small sale changed everything. He quit the filing cabinet forever. Good riddance, we say!

The Birth of Del Boy

Del Boy wasn’t created in a stuffy boardroom. Sullivan based him on real market traders he saw growing up. He mixed their swagger with a hopeless optimism.

Did you know the character’s full name is Derek Trotter? And his catchphrase, “Lovely jubbly!” came from nowhere. Sullivan said he just made it up on the spot while writing a script.

It became a national slogan. That’s the magic of a writer who listens to how people actually talk.

Rodney the Little Brother

Rodney was based on Sullivan’s own younger brother. He was the “plonker” who always got picked on. But Sullivan wrote him with real warmth.

Fun fact: The actor Nicholas Lyndhurst wasn’t the first choice for Rodney. Another actor said no. Lucky for us, they did.

Sullivan insisted Rodney had a heart of gold under his hippie hair. That’s why we root for him even when he’s moaning.

The Legendary Scripts

Sullivan wrote every single episode of the main series. No team of writers. No ghostwriters. Just him, a typewriter, and a lot of tea.

He was a perfectionist. He’d rewrite a single joke ten times until it felt “natural.” The result? Lines we still quote forty years later.

“You plonker!” “Mange tout, mange tout.” “He who dares, wins.” Say them out loud. You know the voice.

The Car, The Geezer, The Chandelier

Think about the famous chandelier scene. The one where Del Boy falls through the bar. Sullivan wrote that as a small moment of physical comedy.

It became one of the most iconic TV bloopers ever. But here’s the secret: David Jason improvised the fall. Sullivan trusted his actors to play.

The script had a simple note: “Del trips.” That’s it. A master writer knows when to let go.

Music Man, Too

Did you know John Sullivan also wrote the theme songs? He composed the music for Only Fools. The jaunty, “Hooky Street” tune? That’s his melody.

He played piano by ear. He couldn’t read a note of sheet music. Yet he created one of the most hummable TV themes in history.

He even sang on the recordings. Listen closely—that’s his voice in the chorus. A multi-talented geezer.

The Big Emotional Punch

People forget: Only Fools could make you cry. Sullivan wrote sad bits that hit like a truck. Remember Grandad’s death or Del’s speech about their mother?

Sullivan didn’t like “sentimental slush.” He wanted real grief that felt earned. He lost his own father young, so he knew the pain.

He once said, “If you make them laugh, you can make them cry twice as hard.” He was right.

Hidden Easter Eggs

Fans love the little secrets Sullivan planted. For example, Del Boy’s three-wheeled Reliant Regal was chosen because it was cheap to hire. It became a character itself.

Sullivan named the pub “The Nags Head” after a real pub in his childhood. And “Trotters Independent Traders” wasn’t a real company. He made it up while eating a sandwich.

He always left tiny clues. Watch the background episodes again. There’s a painting of a horse on the Trotters’ wall. Subtle genius.

The End of the Road

The final episode of the original series aired in 2003. It was called “If They Could See Us Now.” Sullivan wanted a happy ending.

He made the Trotters millionaires. Finally, they got their “yacht!” But he also made their luck feel fragile. You wondered if they’d blow it all.

That was Sullivan’s magic: hope mixed with chaos.

Legacy of a Plonker-Writer

John Sullivan passed away in 2011. He was only 64. Too young, the world agreed.

His son, Jim Sullivan, now writes for TV. The apple didn’t fall far. But there’s only one John.

His work is still gold. It’s played in 80 countries. It’s studied by comedy students. It’s quoted at dinner tables.

Why We Still Love Him

Because he made us laugh at failure. Because Del Boy falling through a bar is a mirror for our own clumsy moments. Sullivan saw the beauty in the cringe.

He wrote about family, money, and dreams—stuff we all deal with. He didn’t judge his characters. He loved them.

Next time you watch an episode, think of the man typing away in his flat. He wasn’t a genius in theory. He was a genius in practice.

So raise a glass of cheap champagne. Say “Cheers, John.” And maybe, just maybe, don’t fall through the bar.

Lovely jubbly, mate.