The BEST Episodes of Only Fools and Horses
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: Jan 21, 2020
Network: BBC One
For over two decades, brothers Derek 'Del Boy' and Rodney Trotter of 'Trotters Independent Traders PLC' entertained us both with Del's extreme optimism and scams and, quite simply, Rodney's facial expressions upon hearing those scams. Moving from straight comedy into comedy-drama in its later years, taking head-on the challenges of life and death in its cast and characters - 'Only Fools' became one of Britain's most loved programmes, regularly topping critics and public popularity polls and spawning not only a spin-off comedy series ('The Green Green Grass'), but also a set of prequel dramas ('Rock & Chips').
#1 - Who's a Pretty Boy?
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired Dec 22, 1983
Del Boy arranges for Rodney & Grandad to redecorate Denzil & Corrinne's flat. What is Corrinne going to say when she finds out that her canary is brown bread?
8.79 
#2 - The Class of '62
Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired Jan 20, 1991
A class of '62 reunion in the Nag's Head signals Roy Slater's return to Civvy Street after years in the nick. But why has the crooked ex-copper decided to come back to Peckham when he is universally loathed? Just as Trig, Del, Boycie and Denzil begin to believe that he really has changed for the better, Del discovers the real reason for his return...
8.74 
#3 - A Touch of Glass
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired Dec 2, 1982
Del introduces the Dresden-collecting aristocracy to some North Korean porcelain and his chandelier-cleaning service.
8.71 
#4 - Tea for Three
Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired Sep 21, 1986
Del's tampered with the sunbed controls and Rodney's seeing red - literally! His face is done to a turn. He'll hardly wow Trigger's niece, Lisa, with his handsome good looks now, which leaves the way pretty clear for Del himself. But revenge should certainly be sweet when Rodders volunteers Del for a spot of hanggliding.
8.69 
#5 - Sleeping Dogs Lie
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired Mar 21, 1985
Del's on to a great money making scheme - looking after Boycie and Marlene's new puppy Dukie for a steal at £60 a week. Should be a doddle - a bit of the old Pedigree Chum and they should be away. Then Dukie falls victim to Salmonella poisoning...
8.68 
#6 - Hole in One
Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired Mar 7, 1985
The Trotters are potless, so Uncle Albert comes to the rescue by having an 'accident' with the open cellar door of the Nag's Head.
8.63 
#7 - Strained Relations
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired Feb 28, 1985
After Grandad's funeral, Delboy & Rodney are surprised to find that his brother, Uncle Albert, has moved in with them - bringing his nautical nightmares.
8.60 
#8 - The Longest Night
Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired Sep 14, 1986
A burglar makes a daring raid on the local supermarket just as Del and family are out buying their weekly French stick. What's worse, Del sold him a duff watch down the local market...
8.59 
#9 - Yuppy Love
Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired Jan 8, 1989
'80s fever is spreading fast! Del Boy's on the up and into the exciting world of red braces and yuppy sorts. Armed with his filofax and briefcase, he's ready to take on the city - well, Peckham anyway. Meanwhile, Rodney's on the pull, with a classy new bird called Cassandra. Wonder what she'll think of Nelson Mandela House...
8.58 
#10 - A Losing Streak
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired Nov 4, 1982
Del and Boycie are set to play the biggest poker game Peckham's ever seen... But what exactly has Boycie got up his sleeve?
8.57 
#11 - Friday the 14th
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired Nov 24, 1983
The Trotters visit Devon for a weekend's fishing but get involved with an escaped 'psycho' from the local mental hospital.
8.56 
#12 - Homesick
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired Nov 10, 1983
Del Boy uses Rodney's election as chairman of the local tenants' association to plot a move to ground-floor accommodation.
8.55 
#13 - Danger UXD
Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired Jan 15, 1989
Just faking a signature on a delivery note means that Del can take possession of 50 dolls for absolutely nothing. The only problem is that 'Lusty Linda' and 'Erotic Estelle' are not exactly what he had in mind and would seem more appropriate to Dirty Barry's dubious trade than to the local toyshop...
8.55 
#14 - Happy Returns
Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired Feb 21, 1985
Rodney's in love with Debbie from the newsagents. Could this mean the end of his dirty magazine fetish? Trouble is she's only 19, and 19 1/2 years ago Del was pretty friendly with her mum...
8.52 
#15 - Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired Oct 5, 1986
Del Boy gets the chance to make a new start (and to become a millionaire) in Australia - fronting Jumbo Mill's used car business.
8.52 
#16 - The Miracle of Peckham
Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired Sep 7, 1986
Del Boy gets religion when the Madonna at the local church is seen to shed tears. But why does she only cry when it's raining, and where did that lead in Del's garage come from?
8.49 
#17 - Wanted
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired Dec 15, 1983
Rodney is on the run after he is accused of being the 'Peckham Pouncer' - but where is that fragrant smell, wafting through the ventilation ducts of Nelson Mandela House, coming from?
8.49 
#18 - The Russians Are Coming
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired Oct 13, 1981
The threat of nuclear war looms over Peckham. What will become of the Nag's Head if the Russians attack? One things guaranteed: the Trotters will be sitting pretty in their DIY shelter...
8.47 
#19 - Video Nasty
Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired Sep 28, 1986
Rodney gets a grant from the local college to make a film, but first he must come up with a viable screenplay. Del gets him a secondhand typewriter, and also suggests a storyline of 'A Rhino Loose in the City'. To make matters worse, the director, Mickey Pearce, fed up with waiting for Rodney to write the story, starts making porn films, only for Rodney to end up starring in one.
8.43 
#20 - Watching the Girls Go By
Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired Mar 28, 1985
Del sets Rodney up with a date, but when she gets to the do at the Nag's Head she makes Rodney wish he hadn't.
8.43 
#21 - Little Problems
Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired Feb 12, 1989
With his diploma in Computer Science, new job in Casandra's father's firm and impending marriage, Rodney's certainly on the up. Del's even promised to take care of his share of the flat deposit. Only problem is, Del's gone and got himself into a bit of bother over some hooky mobile phones with the less-than-understanding Driscoll brothers, and unless he comes up with £2,000 pretty sharpish they're going to take care of him. Rodney and Cassandra are married, and when he returns home from honeymoon, Del Boy gives him some good advice.
8.41 
#22 - Chain Gang
Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired Jan 22, 1989
It's the deal of a lifetime! Faced with the opportunity to buy 250 18-karat gold chains from retired jeweller Arnie, Del can't resist. Hastily a multi-million dollar business consortium is formed - well, Mike from the Nag's Head, Trig, Boycie, Uncle Albert and a reluctant Rodney, anyway. Everything's pretty cushty until Arnie's taken ill just as the deal is about to be sealed, and Del is left feeling that all that glitters...
8.40 
#23 - From Prussia with Love
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired Aug 31, 1986
When a German damsel turns up in the Nag's Head, she's definitely in distress - and nine months pregnant at that. Rodney's all beer and sympathy, but Del's got an idea - could this be the answer to Boycie and Marlene's dreams of a child and a golden opportunity to make a few bob along the way?
8.40 
#24 - As One Door Closes
Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired Apr 4, 1985
When Del Boy's hooky 'louvry' door deal, financed with Denzil's redundancy money, falls through, the boys attempt to repay him by catching a rare butterfly.
8.39 
#25 - Sickness & Wealth
Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired Feb 5, 1989
While excruciating stomach cramps and a constant diet of health salts might drive some people to visit the doctor, not our Del! Oh no, he's only suffering from that scourge of all yuppies, PMA - Positive Mental Attitude! So it's going to require some nifty plotting by Rodney and Uncle Albert to get Del to visit the dreaded 'D' word!
8.37