The creator and actors of the new Only Fools and Horses musical have revealed the TV show's biggest star stayed away from their opening night so as not to pile pressure on the cast.
Sir David Jason, who played Del Boy in the iconic series, was notable by his absence at the London Theatre Royal on Monday night.
His colleague Nicholas Lyndhurst, who played Rodney in the 1980s classic, was absent preparing for the launch of his own forthcoming musical Man of La Mancha at the Coliseum.
But this morning on Good Morning Britain the show's co-creator, comedy writer Paul Whitehouse, said 'Del Boy' was doing his cast a kindness by staying away.
Comedy writer Paul Whitehouse, famous for his work with Harry Enfield and on the Fast Show, told Good Morning Britain that Sir David had been 'very gracious'
Tom Bennett, who plays Del Boy on stage, said he might be put off his game if he looked down to see 'Del Boy' in the front row
He told hosts Adil Ray, 44, and Ranvir Singh, 41: 'David Jason was very gracious, he said he’d keep away on opening night.
Tom Bennett, who plays Del Boy on stage, chimed in to agree with host Ranvir saying: ‘He does know the pressure.
‘The last thing I want is to start selling to the front row, and have “Del Boy” there.
‘It might throw my game a bit’, he added laughing.
Asked by Adil how he approaches the role, Tom added: ‘Goodness knows knows you approach it. With bravery and stupidity.
‘But yeah, they’re huge, huge, shoes to fill and , you know, it’s quite terrifying. It’s a daunting task and there’s a lot of pressure, but I’m so privileged and honoured to have this pressure.'
Absent: Sir David Jason missed the opening night so as not to put off the cast and Nicholas Lyndhurst had his own show to launch, around the corner at the Coliseum
Other stars of the 1981 to 1991 series swapped the streets of Peckham for the red carpet on Monday at the opening night the a West End musical adaptation.
Actors John Challis and Patrick Murray were photographed at the first night of Only Fools and Horses: The Musical at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket.
John, who played Boycie, posed next to the yellow three-wheeled Reliant Regal van owned by Del Boy, which had been parked on the red carpet.
Bearing a striking resemblance to his on-screen character, John looked dapper in a navy waistcoat and chinos, which he teamed with a blue jacket, white shirt and striped tie.
Who's who? John looked dapper in a navy waistcoat and chinos, which he teamed with a grey, blue jacket, white skirt and striped tie (pictured right as his on-screen role Boycie in 2002)
Reliant Regal: A Reliant Robin car similar to the one featured in the television series was parked on the red carpet
In character? Taking a style note from his alter-ego, John slipped a red silk pocket square into his jacket for the opening night of the play
Taking a style note from his alter-ego, John slipped a red silk pocket square into his jacket for the opening night of the play.
Joining John on the red carpet was his co-star Patrick Murray, who starred in the show as Mickey Pearce, a young
