Sir David Jason has revealed an awkward encounter he had with the late Queen which left him feeling ‘such a wally’.
The actor, 83, reflected on the moment he received his knighthood at Buckingham Palace in 2005.
Sir David revealed that he casually told Her Majesty that he was in the middle of making a festive special of Only Fools and Horses, before realising there was ‘no way’ The Queen would watch the show.
Speaking to The Telegraph Magazine, he said: ‘I felt such a wally because she said: “What are you doing at the moment?” and I said, “I’m making a Christmas special of Only Fools and ‘Orses , Your Majesty.
‘It was so East End working class and as it fell out of my mouth I was just thinking, there’s no way on planet Earth that he would watch that sort of show.’
Sir David Jason has revealed an awkward encounter he had with the late Queen which left him feeling ‘such a wally’ after joining forces with Jay Blades for a new series
David has joined forces with The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades for a new BBC series which sees them meet talented crafters, hobbyists and enthusiasts across the country.
Jay himself has also crossed paths with royalty, after King Charles starred in a special episode of The Repair Shop to mark BBC’s 100th Anniversary in 2022.
Speaking about his co-star, David added: ‘Jay has got this wonderful ability to accept whatever I say to him and to come back with something. That is the basis of a good comedy duo.’
David has had a spring back in his step in recent weeks after undergoing hip surgery.
The veteran star proved he was back to his best when he attended an Only Fools And Horses convention dressed as his iconic character Delboy.
The convention had been scheduled to take place in October last year but was postponed in order for David to have his ‘bionic body part fitted’.
Then in November, the beloved actor revealed he had received a ‘successful surgery’ and filmed a clip of himself dramatically discarding his crutches, later shared with Only Fools and Horses News on X, formerly Twitter.
He showed he was back on his feet and stronger than ever as he started to walk towards the camera.
The actor reflected on the moment he received his knighthood at Buckingham Palace in 2005, and casually told the monarch he was filming an Only Fools and Horses Christmas Special
Three months before that, Sir David gave fans the update on his health in a statement explaining why he couldn’t appear at the convention.
He joked he didn’t want to specify exactly what surgery he was heading for as it might make his fans ‘all want one’.
He wrote: ‘I am so very sorry for the disappointment and all the inconvenience it may cause but we are having to change the date of the forthcoming Only Fools and Horses Convention.
‘Unfortunately I have just been advised I need a new bionic body part fitted. I won’t tell you which part it is, or you will all want one!
‘And don’t worry it’s not being supplied by Monkey Harris, it’ll be the pukka gear.’
He added about rescheduling the event: ‘I really hope everyone will be able to make the new date January 13th and 14th.
‘We can all have something cushty to look forward to! These events are such an enjoyable celebration for myself and the rest of the ‘Only Fools’ cast, and it is such a privilege to meet so many of you, but I want to do it with the smile on my face I always have had.’
Sir David signed off his statement: ‘Once again, please accept my sincere apologies as it was not a decision I took at all lightly and I hope that you understand my situation. All cushty wishes until then.’
Sir David has struggled with his health after a ‘seriously bad’ battle with Covid in July 2022.
David has been back on his feet in recent weeks following last year’s hip surgery as he dressed as Del Boy to attend an Only Fools And Horses convention
The viral infection left him so frail he suffered a fall at his home in Ellesborough, Buckinghamshire, and told BBC Breakfast about his tumble ‘All the muscles weren’t working. I collapsed and I fell against the radiator. I was so weak, I couldn’t get up.
‘I tried for about a quarter of an hour, trying all sorts of things to stand up so I could walk about.
‘But in order to do that, I had to use my head. So now I’m lying face down on the ground, and in order to get to the door – and the arms really weren’t working and the legs weren’t working – I was using my head to drag me to the door.’
It is thought Covid triggered a condition called myalgia, which causes muscle aches and pain and can strike at ligaments, tendons and fascia – the soft tissues that connect muscles, bones and organs.
David and Jay’s Touring Toolshed starts on 22nd January at 6.30pm on BBC Two.
