Starring David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst Only Fools and Horses is probably the nations best loved sitcom. This is the modern classic Heroes and Villains. This took a while to come out on DVD which was a bit annoying for those wanting to complete their collection but this episode was truly worth waiting for. You'll all have seen it, 18 million saw it the first time it was on TV. But maybe you'll need a reminder of just how good it is.
You may or may not remember that Del is stuck with a load of Latvian radios that he can't get off his hands. Raquel gets a call to visit her parents and doesn't want to take Del with her, Del overhears and realises she is too embarrassed to either take him or tell him she doesn't want her to come. He makes it easy for her, saying he has got a lot on his plate and couldn't possibly go with her. Of course Del already had plans for the weekend, he has two tickets to a fancy dress party…all he has to do is get Rodney in on it and the fancy dress prize is his. His persuasion of Rodney here is hilarious with his feigned hurt feelings and then his pause in front of the camera as he waits for Rodney's reaction being one of my favourite moments of the episode.
The ensuing night of the fancy dress party has to give some of the funniest moments in Only Fools history. It begins with the image of the broken down van, sitting in the middle of a pedestrianised street, containing Batman and Robin themselves. Not wanting to be there when the pubs chuck out they make a run for the party. A mugging is taking place, the local councillor fighting to keep hold of her handbag, when out of the mist, to strains of the 70's Batman theme, come the caped crusaders. This is an all time classic comedy moment, up there with Del falling through the bar which sends my Dad into convulsions every time he sees it.
I won't go on to what happens when they eventually arrive at the party, or what happens when they spot the muggers at work again in the local market, it's best I leave you to watch it yourself. Needless to say this is funny the whole way through, well worth watching every time it comes on telly and I find when you feel like it on DVD too.
You can buy the all the seven original series in a box set for under £60 now, these are all the shorter episodes, not including the Christmas Specials, of which this is one. It can be bought for around £6 or perhaps cheaper on ebay. This is the very height of Only Fools in my opinion, one of three Christmas specials made that year, a trilogy of specials which represent some of the finest british comedy ever.