Set in Peckham, in South East London, Only Fools and Horses first broadcast on BBC One on 8th September 1981, with the episode ‘Big Brother’. The comedy starred David Jason as "Del Boy" Trotter and Nicholas Lyndhurst as his younger brother Rodney Trotter. The series received numerous awards, including recognition from BAFTA, the National Television Awards and the Royal Television Society, as well as individual accolades for both David and Nicholas.

The programme ran for 7 series and 16 Christmas specials until 2003, with the final episode of series 7 attracting a record audience for a British sitcom of 24.3m viewers that still stands today.

Robert Seatter, Head of BBC History, says: “This cache of new photos reveals the genuine joyful camaraderie at the heart of one of the nation’s best loved sitcoms. Fans will love seeing the on set antics of the leading actors, as well as the paraphernalia of broadcasting on location of ever popular episodes.”

Luke O’Shea, Archive Collections Manager, says: “These unique photographs show filming on location, set design and the cast and crew from the first episode to the last. It is brilliant to share these fantastic memories with the audience. To the best of our knowledge, these images have not been released or viewed previously and have now been fully restored for the enjoyment of fans of the show and of photography. It is an honour to be the custodian of these images and to curate a collection that brings joy to the viewers.”

More information is available on the History of the BBC website below.