Only Fools and Horses Christmas Specials 1996

Among the festive treats and specials the BBC has served its viewers over the years, the three Only Fools and Horses Christmas specials from 1996 - starting on Christmas Day - are among the most loved.

With no new episodes of John Sullivan's sitcom for three years, anticipation was high. The first show - "Heroes and Villains" - attracted a record audience of 21 million. By the time of the finale – "Time on Our Hands" - on 29 December, 24 million people were watching as Del's generally misplaced optimism paid off and the Trotters became millionaires at last.

Only Fools and Horses matured as the audience's love of the characters grew, mixing tragedy with the comedy. The 1996 Christmas specials exemplified this, so high comedy - Del (David Jason) and Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) dressed as a mismatched Batman and Robin - contrasted with the tragedy of Cassandra’s(Gwyneth Strong) miscarriage. They also featured the last appearance of Buster Merryfield - who played Uncle Albert - before his death in 1999.

Demand for Only Fools and Horses led to three more specials up to 2003, and the spin-off series The Green Green Grass, featuring Boycie (John Challis) and Marlene (Sue Holderness). Sullivan also wrote the prequel Rock and Chips, featuring young Del Boy and the birth of Rodney.

John Sullivan was awarded an OBE in 2005, for services to drama and died in 2011.