It’s Only Fools and Hearses
BRITS are putting the fun into funerals by booking a Del Boy lookalike.
Steve Rooney has worked as a double for the TV wheeler dealer for 17 years.
And he says nowadays most of his bookings are wakes.
Steve, from Liverpool, said: “When I first started getting them I thought they were having me on.
“One of the first ones I did, a guy had died and he was a big fan of Del Boy.
“Apparently he always used to tell his mates he’d have the last laugh – so he put in his will that he wanted a Del Boy impersonator at his funeral.
“When his mates clocked me they couldn’t stop laughing.
“I think people do it to lighten the mood.
“Of course funerals are sad, but it’s also a nice opportunity to remember the funny things about our loved ones – the quirky things that made them who they were.”
Last year the theme of the sitcom, which starred Sir ISOBEL DICKINSON David Jason, topped a poll of the most popular songs played at funerals.
And in June last year Sir David wrote to a family who had an Only Fools and Horses-themed send-off for their dad.
After mega fan Keith Drew, 76, of Frome, Somerset, died of leukaemia his body was taken to the crematorium in a yellow Reliant van, like the one driven by Del Boy and nephew Rodney.
Keith’s coffin was brought into the church to the show’s tune.
Sir David, 77, wrote to his family: “I am pleased that your dad had so many laughs enjoying the work that we did.”
In 2012, Del Boy fanatic Darren Abey spent £8,000 of his savings building an Only Fools and Horses-themed hearse.
The former HGV driver took six months turning his yellow 1971 Reliant Regal into a funeral car – with a trailer for coffins.
The three-wheeler was even kitted out with leopard print fake fur across the dashboard.