David Jason Reflects on Hollywood Rejections

At 84, Sir David Jason's aspirations to break into Hollywood faced setbacks as he lost out on lead roles in two 2023 films to fellow British actors Jim Broadbent and Sir Michael Caine. Jason, best known for his iconic role as Del Boy in 'Only Fools and Horses', expressed his disappointment in his memoir 'This Time Next Year', humorously lamenting that his film career resembles 'a box pulled out from under a table at a car boot sale'. He was particularly struck by the irony of Broadbent, who had previously auditioned for the Del Boy role but turned it down, now taking the lead in 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry'. In the same vein, Caine secured the role of a Dunkirk veteran in 'The Great Escaper', which was also a missed opportunity for Jason. Despite his television success, Jason feels overshadowed by his iconic character, stating that Del Boy feels like 'a ghost' following him throughout his career.