History Series / OnlyFoolsAndHorses

* Sid: An occasional character who runs the (somewhat unhygienic) cafe by the market, and later takes over the pub. Played by Paul Heather.

* Cassandra Louise Trotter (nee Parry): An UptownGirl who Rodney first meets at evening school at the start of the sixth series, which finishes with their wedding, with a StoryArc about the often-rocky state of their marriage in subsequent episodes. Sceptical about most of what Del says (although that doesn't stop her from getting on well with Raquel), and something of a DeadpanSnarker. Played by Gwyneth Strong.

* Rachel "Raquel" Turner: Originally a OneShotCharacter who appeared in the 1988 ChristmasSpecial "Dates" as a woman Del dated. They split up, but Del meets her again in the 1989 ChristmasSpecial "The Jolly Boys' Outing" and they resume their relationship. She subsequently moves in with the Trotters, becoming the mother of Del's child and the TeamMom in the later episodes. Played by Tessa Peake-Jones.

* CastingGag: Douglas Hodge, the then-husband of Tessa Peake-Jones, who plays Raquel, was cast as the grown-up Damien in Rodney's dream in "Heroes and Villains".

* Boycie: An [[SmugSnake unlovable rogue]] and [[AristocratsAreEvil frightful snob]] with a SignatureLaugh who is usually gloating over Del's misfortunes. Initially Del's SitcomArchnemesis, but becomes more of a FriendlyEnemy. His real name is eventually revealed in "Sickness and Wealth" as [[EmbarrassingMiddleName Terrence Aubrey Boyce]]. Later got his own SpinOff, ''Series/TheGreenGreenGrass''. Played by John Challis.

* Grandad (Edward Kitchener "Ted" Trotter): Del and Rodney's grandfather; very much TheDitz and often also TheLoad for the Trotter boys. Appears in the first three series. When actor Lennard Pearce died while they were filming series four, [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim Grandad died too]], with his funeral serving as the focal point of the episode "Strained Relations".

** A more good natured case in "[[Recap/OnlyFoolsAndHorsesS4E02StrainedRelations Strained Relations]]", which featured Grandad's funeral to coincide with his actor Leonard Pearce's passing. While the scene is fittingly poignant and respectful, it is characteristically laden with a few light hearted gags and hiccups. In particular, one moving scene has Del Boy put what is supposedly Grandad's trademark hat inside his grave to be buried with him, only for the priest to later ask where his hat has gone.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: The deaths of the actors who played Grandad and Uncle Albert were followed by the deaths of the characters in the show. Corrine and Mike, Denzil's wife and the pub landlord respectively, were also both written out of the series when the actors playing them passed away. Corrine was said to have divorced Denzil after being fed up with him, and Mike was caught by a federal investigation for fraud and serving prison time. John Sullivan was strongly opposed to the use of [[TheOtherDarrin]] other actors and when BBC executives suggested he deal with the problem of Lennard Pearce's death by recasting Grandad, he put his foot down and created Uncle Albert instead.

* StartsWithTheirFuneral: "Strained Relations" opens with Grandad's funeral. This was a necessity, as Lennard Pearce had recently died, so it was much a farewell to the actor as the character. Creator/DavidJason and Creator/NicholasLyndhurst found the scene difficult for this reason.

** Series six ended with Rodney and Cassandra getting married. The next series saw a storyline where their marriage runs into serious trouble before reconciling.

-->'''Rodney:''' I know what I said! But there's a world of difference between saying and doing! If I'd gone to the police every time you said you were gonna kill me you'd still be slopping out in Parkhurst!

* WithAFootOnTheBus: The season five finale "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" has Del being offered a partnership in Australia with his old business partner Jumbo Mills. He intitially accepts the offer and hands ownership of Trotters' Independent Trading to Rodney, who can't go because of his criminal record. Following an argument, Del declines the offer, believing that family is more important.

* HappyEndingOverride:

* Mike Fisher: The landlord of the [[MyLocal local pub]], the Nag's Head, which all of the characters frequent. Usually comes across as a pretty sensible guy, but his gullibility means he's often a target customer for Del's dodgy goods. Played by Kenneth [=MacDonald=], who was also in ''Series/ItAintHalfHotMum''.

-->'''Alan:''' For pie and mash!\\
* CaptainCrash: This was a running joke when referencing Uncle Albert.

Why do only fools and horses work?''\\

In 1996, the series got a GrandFinale which sees the Trotters finally managed to become millionaires after discovering a rare watch in their garage which was auctioned for £6 million. The final episode attracted a record British television audience of over 24 million viewers. The show was then [[{{Revival}} revived]] in 2001 for three more episodes, though with some controversy as it [[HappyEndingOverride immediately reversed the happy ending of the finale]] and [[StatusQuoIsGod returned the Trotters to poverty, even moving them back into the exact same council flat]]. There was also a one-off special in 2014 as part of Sport Relief, a charity drive held by the BBC every two years; in the special, Del and Rodney rope David Beckham into one of their moneymaking schemes. Creator/DavidJason also briefly reprised the Del Boy role in a recorded good luck message for the England Euro 2021 football team.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63rcdLeXiU8 Del falling through a bar]] -- which in 2022 (over three decades after the episode in which it takes place was filmed) was declared to be the funniest (British) sitcom moment ''of all time'' by [[Creator/UKTV Gold]], which [[AdoredByTheNetwork loves this show]].

* Denzil Tulser: TheEveryman, relied upon to get caught up in Del's schemes because he's just too much of a NiceGuy not to help. He's also the HenpeckedHusband to Corrine (who is only seen once due to actress Eva Mottley's death). Originally a JiveTurkey, but this gets toned down quite quickly. Played by Paul Barber.

* DCI Roy Slater: A DirtyCop who's determined to arrest Del for ''something''. He was at school with Del, Trig, Denzil and Boycie, and no-one liked him then either. He's eventually arrested himself for diamond smuggling. In "The Class of '62", it's revealed that Slater was once Raquel's husband. Played by Creator/JimBroadbent, who had [[WhatCouldHaveBeen originally been offered the role of Del Boy]] but turned it down due to other commitments.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63rcdLeXiU8 Del falling through a bar]]

!!This series contains examples of:

* AcronymAndAbbreviationOverload At one point, Del Boy insists that "Modern businesspeople only speak in initials!" He initialises everything -- examples include the GLC: "General 'Lectric Company" and PMA: "Positive Mental Attitude". He also tries to initialise "Trotter's Independent Traders" and Rodney's "Diploma In Computerisation", the results of which are duly pointed out.

** This was also done the other way around in ''Series/GoodnightSweetheart'' -- Gary (played by Creator/NicholasLyndhurst) is about to lean back and fall through an open bar door like Del Boy famously did, but notices in time and gives an AsideGlance wink to the audience, which was accompanied by uproarious laughter that must seem inexplicable and random to anyone unfamiliar with the ''Only Fools'' scene in question.

* Rachel "Raquel" Turner: Originally a OneShotCharacter who appeared in the 1988 ChristmasSpecial "Dates" as a woman Del dated. They split up, but Del meets her again in the 1989 ChristmasSpecial "The Jolly Boys' Outing" and they resume their relationship. She subsequently moves in with the Trotters, becoming the mother of Del's child and the TeamMom in the later episodes.
* Cassandra Louise Trotter (nee Parry): An UptownGirl who Rodney first meets at evening school at the start of the sixth series, which finishes with their wedding. Sceptical about most of what Del says (although that doesn't stop her from getting on well with Raquel), and something of a DeadpanSnarker.
* Damien Derek Trotter: Del and Raquel's son, who Rodney suspects of being the Antichrist (he was even named as the result of a sarcastic suggestion by Rodney that Del and Raquel didn't realise [[Film/TheOmen1976 the significance of]]). By the 2001 revival, he's a MouthyKid.

* Trigger (Colin Ball): So named not because he carries a gun but "because he looks like [[Creator/RoyRogers a horse]]". [[AccidentalMisnaming Always calls Rodney "Dave"]], and can never be persuaded otherwise. Originally a small-time crook who supplies Del with dodgy merchandise, he [[CharacterDevelopment becomes]] a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} and not the sharpest spoon in the drawer. Played by Creator/RogerLloydPack, who you may recognise from ''Series/TheVicarOfDibley''.
* Boycie: An [[SmugSnake unlovable rogue]] and [[AristocratsAreEvil frightful snob]] with a SignatureLaugh who is usually gloating over Del's misfortunes. Initially Del's SitcomArchnemesis, but becomes more of a FriendlyEnemy. His real name is eventually revealed in "Sickness and Wealth" as [[EmbarrassingMiddleName Terrence Aubrey Boyce]]. Later got his own SpinOff, ''Series/TheGreenGreenGrass''.
* Marlene: Boycie's wife. Originally TheGhost, only referred to in the pub ("[[ReallyGetsAround all the lads remember Marlene]]"), she starts appearing in the fourth series from "Sleeping Dogs Lie" onward. There is a constant undercurrent of an attraction between her and Del.
* Denzil Tulser: TheEveryman, relied upon to get caught up in Del's schemes because he's just too much of a NiceGuy not to help. He's also the HenpeckedHusband to Corrine (who is only seen once due to actress Eva Mottley's death). Originally a JiveTurkey, but this gets toned down quite quickly.
* Mike Fisher: The landlord of the [[MyLocal local pub]], "The Nag's Head", which all of the characters frequent. A pretty sensible guy, but also rather gullible and often a target customer for Del's dodgy goods.
* Mickey Pearce: Rodney's best friend, though he doesn't often [[FalseFriend act like it]], and has no qualms about double crossing Rodney or stealing his girlfriends. He first appears in the third series.
* DCI Roy Slater: "Slater the Slag", a DirtyCop determined to arrest Del for ''something''. He was at school with Del, Trig, Denzil and Boycie, and no-one liked him then either. He's eventually arrested himself for diamond smuggling. In "The Class of '62", it's revealed that Slater was once Raquel's husband.