Oscar winner Jim turned down the chance to star as Del Boy
ACTOR Jim Broadbent revealed that he was offered the part of Del Boy in Only Fools And Horses but was too tall for the role and did not think it suited him.
The 71 year old, who is 6ft 2in, said he thought the “Jack the Lad character” was not quite his style.
Broadbent instead played bent copper Roy Slater in the BBC sitcom, saying David Jason, at 5ft 5in, played Derek Trotter “far better” than he could have done.
Speaking in Berkshire Life magazine, Oscar winner Broadbent said: “I was offered the part of Del Boy but I didn’t feel that it was quite right for me.
“I was probably too tall for a start and the Jack the Lad character was not quite my style.
“As it turned out, David Jason was perfect and he played Del Boy far better than I could have done. I was happy as Roy Slater. Only Fools And Horses was a great series.
“For me it was an honour to have been part of one of the most successful comedy shows in television history and work alongside David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst [ who played Rodney Trotter]; a fantastic experience and a lot of fun. Whenever I went back it was like visiting the family again. There was always a great atmosphere.”
Broadbent won the Academy and Golden Globe awards for Best Supporting Actor in the 2001 film Iris, alongside Dame Judi Dench.
He also starred as Horace Slughorn in the Harry Potter film series, and in fantasy TV series Game of Thrones.