David Jason

Del Boy's look was modelled on counterfeit traders who sold dodgy goods out of suitcases in markets. To perfect this, he people-watched the traders for hours on ...

As a result Over the Moon was scrapped, and John was left with nothing to work on and a crushing sense of disappointment. While John and producer Ray Butt were drowning their sorrows following the failure, he remembered an old idea of a market trader he'd had turned down years earlier. In fact production into the show's first series was so far in that nearly four whole episodes had been produced before John was hit with some devastating news. Ron was a manager running a shabby club but with lofty aspirations for glory he was never likely to achieve. Much like the now super successful Ted Lasso, the idea John had all the way back in 1980 revolved around a down on his luck football manager. Another thing that many people don’t know is that the sitcom was very nearly about football.