I was lucky enough to be raised during the years when Only Fools and Horses was what we now know as prime time television. I remember it vividly as not only being hilarious and engaging but as one of the very first TV programmes I could relate to at a really young age. I laughed along as I genuinely connected with its characters and the incredible humour, with a lot of TV shows at the time because I was so young I wasn't always sure of what was going on.
Boycie was a character that at that time I loved to hate, there was no denying he was an amazingly funny character however, as Del Boy himself would describe him, he was also a "git!"
Although I've always held OFAH close to my heart I didn't fully realise the impact the people behind the characters had on me until recently when we sadly lost John. I felt his loss a lot deeper than I'd ever expected to have, unfortunately I never got to see John in the flesh but the laughs I had both with him and at him through the TV screen will stay with me forever. Great memories of laughing along as a family and also the day/s after a show with friends as we discussed what had gone on!
Boycie in Belgrade hits on this phenomena very well in somewhat extraordinary circumstances. At a time when Serbia was going through a war its people were allowed to escape that by sitting together round the TV set watching episodes of OFAH, and then by reliving an episode with their friends over the the next day/s just as we did.
I didn't grow up in a war zone thankfully however life was tough throughout the eighties at times for a lot of us so I can absolutely relate to the joy and escapism OFAH brought to millions. Although to learn it had the same impact in such circumstances is completely magnificent.
RIP John, your legacy is the humour you so loved and as such you'll be remembered incredibly fondly by millions of people worldwide I've little doubt.
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