Just hearing those classic Del Boy catchphrases and sayings; ‘Lovely jubbly’, ‘Shut up you tart’, ‘what a plonker’ and ‘Mange tout’ made us, and the rest of the audience, laugh out loud at the New Theatre Oxford, where Only Fools and Horses The Musical is running this week.
This hilarious stage adaptation of the iconic British sitcom is on until Saturday 15th March, and tickets are still available so don’t miss your chance to see this fan-favourite show live!
For fans of the TV classic, it might seem sacrilege to not have the original cast, but it was written by Jim Sullivan (son of original creator John) and Paul Whitehouse (sadly missing as Grandad for this show of the UK Tour). And the cast’s attention to detail, from expressions to iconic catchphrases, is remarkable. Close your eyes, and it feels like you’re listening to the original TV cast.
What to Expect from Only Fools and Horses The Musical
The moment the curtain rose, we were taken back in time to the 1980s and working class Peckham. The market was being set up for a day’s trading, as the chords struck to the television series’ theme tune by Chas and Dave, there was a collective smile across the audiences’ faces.
We were quickly introduced to many of the main characters we all know and love; Rodney, Del Boy, Trigger, Denzil, Mike, Boycie, Marlene, Cassandra, and the show’s different iconic locations:
- The Market – Del Boy’s beloved business ventures (many of them doomed from the start!)
- The Trotter Flat – Home to Del, Rodney, and Grandad’s many misadventures
- The Nag’s Head Pub – A key setting for some of the best one-liners in British TV history
Incredible Performances & Spot-On Casting
- Sam Lupton (Del Boy) – Perfectly captures David Jason’s swagger, charm, and cheeky wit
- Tom Major (Rodney) – Nails Nicholas Lyndhurst’s awkward, lovable mannerisms
- Phillip Childs (Grandad) – A scene-stealer with brilliant comedic timing
- Lee VG (Trigger) – Utterly hilarious in every scene, delivering “Wotcha Dave” with perfection
- Peter Watts (Boycie) & Amanda Coutts (Marlene) – Their chemistry and performances are spot on
Praise must go to the excellent cast who must have put in hours of work to replicate the characteristics, mannerisms, tone and expressions of those beloved television characters.
Storyline: Classic Moments Brought to Life
This production blends together three legendary Only Fools episodes. No spoilers, but expect life-changing moments for Del Boy, Rodney, Boycie, and Marlene, including:
- New relationships
- A wedding
- The arrival of a little ‘Trotter’
The show is pretty fast-paced with plenty of narrative, music and plain laugh out loud one-liners as you would expect from such a legendary show. Some of our favourites included – Trigger’s ‘Wotcha Dave’ greeting to Rodney; Del Boy’s quip that Trigger’s ‘dad died two years before he was born’ and as Trigger prepared to go on a blind date, Del Boy pointed out that he ‘looked like an explosion in a Dulux (paint) factory’.
There was so much tongue in cheek banter and it had us laughing throughout.
Standout Musical Moments
It’s a musical, you can read our interview with the writers on why, and it did not disappoint. Watch out for Gloria Acquaah-Harrison’s (Mrs Obooko) and her rendition of ‘Holding Back the Years’ which was absolutely stunning.
Brilliant Stage Design & Seamless Scene Changes
Final mention must be the set. We loved how it transformed from a market, to a flat to the pub, then a restaurant, then to a station, it was seamlessly and cleverly done.
The clever, quick changes kept the show flowing beautifully.
Final Verdict: Should You See It?
✅ If you love Only Fools and Horses – This is a must-see!
✅ If you enjoy British comedy – The humour, wit, and nostalgia will win you over.
✅ If you’re new to the show – You’ll leave wanting to binge-watch the entire series!
Our Rating: 4.5/5 – A Hilarious, Nostalgic Night Out!
For a guaranteed feel-good evening, Only Fools and Horses The Musical delivers laughs, heart-warming moments, and top-tier performances.
How to Get Tickets
- Where: New Theatre Oxford
- When: Now until Saturday, 15 March
- Run time: 2 hours 20 minutes (incl. interval)
- Tickets: Book here
If you are an Only Fools and Horse fan like me you will not be disappointed, this is a great show, a snapshot of their lives and one that will lift you up and keep you laughing all evening. I’ve always said OFAH was a comedy gem as it had moments that were genuinely emotional and could make you cry before bringing you back up again to belly laugh. This stage adaptation does it proud.
