'Lost' episode of Only Fools and Horses to be shown for the first time
It was filmed in 1984
Published 12th Sep 2017 Last updated 14th Sep 2017
For the first time ever a 'lost' episode of the 80s comedy Only Fools and Horses will be shown on TV.
The episode, called Licensed to Drill, is believed to have been sitting on a dusty shelf for years before it was found and it will now be shown as part of an Only Fools and Horses special, The Story Of Only Fools And Horses, to celebrate UKTV Gold's 25th anniversary.
Produced by the Maureen Oilfield Consortium and created exclusively for British schools, Licensed to Drill was made to teach school children about crude oil and the things that can be mass-produced from it.
The episode features the main characters of Del Boy, Rodney and Grandad. Filmed in 1984 the episode is particularly poignant as it was Lennard Pearce’s final appearance as Grandad before his death later that year.
In Licensed to Drill,** **Del Boy reveals his latest get-rich-quick scheme is to buy an oil rig for the bargain price of £400 and drill for oil. However Rodney is dubious about this new idea when he finds out the oil rig is being kept in a garage in Catford!
"I don't think you read that magazine very well did you!" exclaimed Rodney when he was told about it, asking Del how they were going to do the exploration. Of course quick-thinker Del had a response for his younger brother saying,
"We don't have to! We just stay low in our boat for a while and we wait for one of the big oil companies to move off the oil field, then we whip in and use their hole!"
Also being shown as part of The Story Of Only Fools And Horses is a series of outtakes or bloopers from the time the series was originally recorded, along with clips of the actors watching the scenes.
With an original run of 10 years, Only Fools and Horses has been repeated in recent years on UKTV Gold for another generation. The series followed ambitious market trader Del Boy and his younger brother Rodders in their constant aim to make millions through various schemes.
The Story Of Only Fools And Horses will be shown on UKTV Gold on Tuesdays at 8pm until 3rd October.
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'Lost' episode of Only Fools and Horses to be shown for the first time
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Starring Duane Henry, Emily Wickersham, and Wilmer Valderrama (above) NCIS was originally going to be called NavyNCIS.
Friends
We all know and love it as Friends, but the TV show could have been called something very different...
Six of One
Six Of One just doesn't have the same ring to it! Here are the cast Jennifer Aniston, Matt Le Blanc, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow,
Only Fools and Horses
We know it as Only Fools and Horses with Del Boy's infamous Reliant Regal Supervan.
Readies or Big Brother
But it was originally due to be called Readies or Big Brother. Good job they went with Only Fools and Horses, then!
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory could have been called something a lot less catchy...
Lenny, Penny and Kenny
Yep - Sheldon was very nearly called Kenny!
Saturday Night Live
US variety show Saturday Night Live is well known around the world - here's Star Wars actor Adam Driver introducing the show.
Hannah Montana, was a musical comedy starring Miley Cyrus in the lead role and was named after the main character, but it could have been very different.
Alexis Texas
The lead character was originally going to be called Alexis Texas... Which means that the show would also have been called Alexis Texas!
Lost
The gripping TV show Lost, starring Terry O'Quinn as John Locke (pictured), kept people guessing the ending for years.
Nowhere
Lost could have been called Nowhere!
New Girl
Known as New Girl, the TV show starring Zooey Deschanel as kooky teacher Jess Day could have been called something else entirely.
Chicks and D---s
While New Girl was the name they finally settled on, it had a much ruder working title - and Zooey Deschanel refused to sign onto the project whilst that was the name.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Supernatural TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer was a hit in the late 90s and early 00s. It was named after the lead character Buffy Summers, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Slayers
It was originally going to be called Slayers.
The Good Wife
Known as The Good Wife, the TV series starred Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart (pictured), as a top litigator and senior partner of a Chicago law firm.
Leave the B-----d
The series, which also starred Sex and the City's Chris Noth (pictured), was originally going to be called Leave the B-----d.
NCIS
NCIS finished its 14th season earlier this year - this moment is from the gripping season finale.
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