Fans of one of the BBC’s biggest hit shows that’s adored by millions are calling for its spin-off to be revivedKaren Price Assistant Editor of Screen Time and Emmanuella Ngimbi
08:17, 02 Jan 2026Updated 12:41, 02 Jan 2026
Fans want to see the spin-off of an iconic BBC show revived(Image: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
It’s one of the BBC’s biggest hit comedy shows but it also led to a successful spin-off and now fans are calling for it to be revived for the new year.
After debuting on television in 1981, Only Fools and Horses instantly became a British phenomenon and is broadly regarded as one of the UK’s greatest sitcoms ever made.
The beloved BBC series chronicled Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter (portrayed by David Jason ) and Rodney Trotter ( Nicholas Lyndhurst ), two siblings working as black market dealers, purchasing and flogging anything they could get their hands on in the hope of striking it rich one day.
Audiences fell in love with its down-to-earth storyline and brilliantly sharp humour, and have kept returning to their treasured episodes decades following its 2003 conclusion.
Rock and Chips ended following John Sullivan’s death(Image: BBC)
Fortunately for devotees, the show’s late creator and scriptwriter, John Sullivan, unveiled a prequel in 2010, Rock and Chips, which explored the lives of the cherished characters during the early 60s. It cast a spotlight on Del’s unhappily wed mother, Joan (Kellie Bright), who had already passed away during Only Fools and Horses.
With new perspective into their world, viewers were thrilled with the series and anxiously anticipated further episodes. Though the programme tragically concluded permanently following John’s untimely passing, supporters are campaigning for Rock and Chips to be revived.
Expressing their views about the series, one commented: “Such a shame John Sullivan passed away, as he was a genius at writing this, and the series had to end short, as the episodes that he did were just genius,” reports the Express.
Rock and Chips focused on Del Boy’s life during the 1960s(Image: BBC)
Another fan reflected: “Rock and chips will always in my mind be a shining example of what could have been if John Sullivan hadn’t been taken from us too soon. A great glimpse into the earlier Trotter family capers, although it’s a limited run. However, you’ve got to take what you’re given in these cases. It just leaves you sadly wanting more.”
“I absolutely love Only Fools And Horses and the first of the Rock And Chips prequels is just as funny, and it was also great to see the fashion, etc of the 60s,” said a third.
Another disappointed viewer commented: “It’s such a shame there won’t be any more, but I’ll watch these features again and maybe this time not with such a heavy heart.”
“The cast is all great, particularly Kellie Bright, Nicholas Lyndhurst and Phil Daniels. I like James Buckley as Del a lot; it’s not his show, and anyone can say the catchphrases, but Buckley really gets the mannerisms, and it feels more than the caricature it could’ve very easily been,” said another.
The Only Fools and Horses prequel was released in 2010(Image: BBC)
One devoted fan expressed: “Gutted John died before he could finish it. It needs to be renewed. James Buckley played such a good young Del.”
The Rock and Chips ensemble also featured Nicholas Lyndhurst, James Buckley, Shaun Dingwall, Phil Daniels and Paula Wilcox alongside Bright.
Sadly, John passed away in April 2011 aged 64 from pneumonia following a prolonged illness, representing an enormous blow to British comedy.
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