How Many Series Of Only Fools And Horses Was There

You know that feeling when you’re channel-surfing at 2 AM, and suddenly you hear “He who dares, wins, Rodney!” and you just have to stop? That’s Only Fools and Horses—the show that feels less like a sitcom and more like a visit from an old, slightly dodgy mate. It’s the kind of program you don’t just watch; you live it, especially if you’ve ever tried to sell a broken microwave at a car boot sale.

So, how many series of this national treasure were actually made? It’s a bit like asking how many layers are on a trifle—everyone remembers the big, wobbling bits, but the exact count can get hazy. Officially, there were seven series between 1981 and 1991, but that’s like saying a Sunday roast is just meat and potatoes. The show also had sixteen Christmas specials, which are basically the gravy and Yorkshire puddings—essential and twice as addictive.

Here’s where it gets as messy as Del Boy’s sales pitch for a “nearly new” three-wheeled Robin Reliant. Many people, including me, swear there are more series because the specials were so long and grand. The 1996 trilogy, “Heroes and Villains,” “Modern Men,” and “Time on Our Hands,” are often treated as a mini-series of their own—because who can forget the Trotters becoming millionaires? That’s not just a series; that’s a national holiday in sofa-time.

Let’s break it down like you’re explaining to a mate why the pub quiz answer is wrong. The original seven series ran like this: 1 (1981), 2 (1982), 3 (1983), 4 (1985), 5 (1986), 6 (1989), and 7 (1991). But wait—there’s also a 1988 special, “Dates,” which is sometimes lumped in with series 5. It’s the “do I count the pickle in the sandwich?” debate of British telly.

After the 1991 series ended, we all thought that was it. Del, Rodney, and Uncle Albert had sailed off into the sunset with a briefcase full of Barclays cards. Then, in 1996, John Sullivan gave us the trilogy that ended with the Trotters becoming genuine millionaires (after a disastrous ride on a Jumbo Jet and selling a priceless watch). That trilogy is so beloved that many fans, including my nan, call it “Series 8.”

The BBC eventually counted those specials as part of the canon, but the official DVD box sets keep the count at seven. It’s like arguing with a traffic warden—you can be right, but they still win. The show returned for three more specials in 2001, 2002, and 2003—the “newer” episodes where Del and Rodney were rich but still moaning about profits. Those are often called “Series 8” by modern streaming services, which just adds to the mayhem.

If you look at a complete episode list, you’ll find 64 episodes in total (including the specials). But only seven of those are technically “series” episodes in the traditional sense—the ones with title sequences and the classic theme tune. The rest are big, fat, festive feasts of comedy. It’s a bit like saying your Auntie’s Christmas dinner has “portions”—technically true, but you’re going back for thirds.

The real answer, the one you’d give in a pub while sipping a pint of bitter, is seven series and a stack of legendary specials. But honestly, who’s counting when you’re laughing at Trigger’s “same brush” gag for the hundredth time? The show has that magical ability to feel endless, like a jam roly-poly that keeps giving. You can watch “The Jolly Boys’ Outing” and still feel the dread of that runaway bus, every single time.

Here’s a funny comparison: the series count is like the number of times you’ve promised to sort out your garage. You know it’s only seven distinct sessions, but the mess (and the laughter) suggests you’ve been at it for decades. Each series is a chapter in the Trojan family saga—Del’s schemes, Rodney’s love life, and Grandad’s endless naps. And just when you think the saga is over, someone mentions “the chandelier” and you’re howling all over again.

So, next time someone asks, “How many series of Only Fools and Horses are there?” smile and say, “Seven official ones, plus a dozen specials that feel like they’re own series.” Then, if they’re a real fan, launch into the story of how Del Boy fell through the bar at the Nags Head. That’s the real metric of a show—not the number of episodes, but how many times you’ve nearly choked on your tea from laughing. And for Del, Rodney, and that yellow three-wheeler, the count is infinite.