New Del Boy says he’s the most ‘under pressure actor in the history of the West End’ ahead of Only Fools and Horses musical
Actor Tom Bennett has the tricky task of portraying Del Boy in the new Only Fools And Horses musical opening in London’s West End in just ten days
IF you think Richard Madden or Idris Elba would face a tough test taking over from Daniel Craig as the next James Bond, spare a thought for Tom Bennett.
He has the unenviable task of reprising a deeply loved British character on a par with 007, albeit one that favours a Baileys and cherryade over a Martini and drives a tatty yellow three-wheeled van instead of an Aston Martin.
Tom, 39, is playing Derek Trotter in the new Only Fools And Horses musical opening in London’s West End in just ten days.
Tickets are selling quicker than a batch of knock-off Bosnian carpet cleaners from Monkey Harris.
And to say Tom is feeling the pressure is an understatement.
Speaking to The Sun in his only interview since landing the part, he admitted: “It’s terrifying. I’m the most under-pressure actor in the history of the West End.
“It’s Only Fools And Horses. There’s no person in the country that doesn’t love it or has an opinion about it or doesn’t know about it. It’s intrinsic in our British DNA.
“There has only been one Del Boy — so I’ve got to be good.”
Since the musical was announced in October last year ticket sales have broken box office records, raking in millions.
Such is the demand, extra dates have been added meaning it will run for an additional month into August.
To perfect their roles, cast members have been locked in rehearsals in South London, a stone’s throw from the Trotters’ old stomping ground of Peckham.
And Tom, a South Londoner himself hailing from Croydon, has spent most of the time on the studio floor practising Del Boy’s most iconic scene — falling through a pub bar.
He said: “I’ll be doing it more than 400 times over the course of the year so I need to ensure it’s done right. You have to fall like a plank of wood. It’s about tricking your brain, telling your brain not to put your hand out.
“If you do put your hand out to break the impact, it looks terrible, it’s not a comedy fall.”
Tom landed the part on the recommendation of comedy legend Jennifer Saunders, who starred alongside him in 2018 family film Patrick.
He simply had to prove he could sing, so he could carry off the big music numbers, many of which were written by the late Chas Hodges of Chas & Dave fame.
His career has been predominantly TV based, with a role as geeky Christopher on Channel 4 sitcom Phone Shop his most well known.
But Tom is quickly realising how physically demanding theatre can be, especially when you’re wearing a super-thick sheepskin coat.
He says: “The coat is ridiculously heavy and I’ve always got three layers on.
“These old theatres are very hot so there’s not much in the way of air-conditioning.
“I’ll be under those hot lights for two hours and will probably lose three pints of sweat every night. It’s a sick thought but I’ll leave it with you.”
He is joined by 6ft 2in actor Ryan Hutton, 24, as the other Trotter brother, Rodney.
They were paired half-way through the audition stages and have more than an uncanny resemblance to the famous brothers, brought to life on TVs by Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst.
Ryan, a relative newcomer to the industry having graduated from central London’s Italia Conti performing arts school in 2016, was careful not to scrutinise his character too much.
He explained: “When I got it, I knew the show anyway and didn’t want to delve too deeply. You go insane otherwise. If you micro analyse everything it does you in.
“Physically I’m quite long and gangly, which helps as Rodney. Being uncomfortable in his skin is something I’ve tried to look at.”
The musical was the brainchild of late Only Fools And Horses creator John Sullivan, who always dreamed of taking Del Boy and Rodney to the West End.
All the major characters feature, even the likes of the Driscoll brothers Tony and Danny, ensuring the show will be a full-on Nags Head reunion. Props from the original sitcom are being used to add authenticity — even down to little touches such as Del’s lion cigar holder from his living room bar in Nelson Mandela House.
The comedy’s most iconic moments, such as Del Boy’s pub fall and the chandelier smash, all feature in a new story based on John Sullivan’s favourite episode, Dates.
It was the BBC sitcom’s seventh Christmas special and saw Del join a dating agency and meet Raquel — who went on to be his girlfriend and mother of his son.
The production is split into two parts — Eighties London and modern day, which is seen through bumbling roadsweeper Trigger’s crystal ball. And the opening scene is particularly special to the Sullivan family, as it is inspired by a lost cassette found in John Sullivan’s garage shortly after his death.
Jim explains: “I was helping my mum clear out the garage when I came across an old cassette tape with the words ‘This Time Next Year’ written on it.
“We played the song and there was Chas & Dave (as Del and Rodney) belting out, ‘We’re gonna be all right, the good times are on their way’.
“Mum recalled that Dad had gone to Chas’s studio back in the late 1990s to work on a song idea, and this was obviously the result.
“So we had the beginning of an opening scene and what I felt would make a great and uplifting final song. Our job then was to fill in the middle bit.”
Tom believes the show will shock theatre luvvies who have looked down on the idea and predicts it will inspire some fans’ first trip to a musical.
He said: “I do think it will surprise everyone.
“We’ll have a lot of audience members who are huge Only Fools fans who have never been to a theatre, let alone a musical.
“And I hope people will come and think, ‘if that’s what a musical is, I might go to another’.
“There will be a lot of theatrical people who think we’re cashing in, but I think they’ll leave it going, ‘actually that’s a good musical’.
“It will be better than some people will give it credit for. From ten to 80, people will love it.”
Fans will be relieved Jim and Paul are sticking to the show’s roots, refusing to bow down to PC-loving millennials who moaned about the sitcom’s content after its debut on Netflix last year.
Tom explains: “The spirit is very close to the original. None of it is inappropriate, it’s all done with love and respect, all done with heart.
“We thread the needle between keeping the original alive but not offending any people. It’s too much fun. Millennials will come and watch it — if they’ve got enough money.”
- Only Fools And Horses The Musical opens at the Theatre Royal, in London’s Haymarket, on Saturday, February 9. For tickets see
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