SIR David Jason’s dreams of cracking Hollywood at the age of 84 have been left in tatters – and he blames Jim Broadbent and Sir Michael Caine.
After a stellar TV career, the Only Fools And Horses legend, with the catchphrase lovely jubbly, hoped to finally make a big impact on the big screen.
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However, after meetings to discuss two lead roles, he discovered Broadbent and Caine bagged the parts.
Being pipped by Jim was particularly ironic as the Moulin Rouge star famously auditioned to play Del Boy, but turned it down due to theatre commitments.
But he was glad the part eventually went to Sir David, who played the market trader from 1981 to 2003.
Broadbent said: “Luckily David Jason was available so my biggest contribution to British culture is not being available.”
Sir David, however, has never had quite the same impact on the big screen.
He said: “I would love to be able to declare that my collected film work on DVD would make an elegant shelf of high-class cinematic experiences to browse among an evening.
“I fear, however, that it may look more like the contents of a box pulled out from under a table at a car boot sale”.
The actor was up for lead roles in two 2023 movies — The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry and The Great Escaper.
Broadbent beat him to the first, which he found out via a newspaper.
And Sir Michael Caine pipped him to the role of a Dunkirk veteran who flees his care home to attend a memorial across the Channel in The Great Escaper.
Writing in his new book This Time Next Year, out now, David says: “I thought it was going to be me escaping from the care home and going to look for my Dun-kirk chums.
“It’s the hope that kills you.”
MYSTERY WILD RIDE WITH ROB
ROB BRYDON has been confirmed as the “puppet master” who will keep contestants on their toes in a new adventure reality series.
I exclusively revealed earlier this year that the Gavin & Stacey actor would be at the helm of the new BBC format, which sees participants head on a road trip of a lifetime – with no idea of where they are.
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In order to stay in Destination X, which is expected to hit screens in 2025, players must figure out their mystery location.
Those whose guesses are furthest away get eliminated from the competition.
And the first person to reach the mystery journey’s end will be crowned the winner.
Rob said: “I can’t wait to be the puppet master orchestrating every twist and turn as our contestants are taken on a journey where everything is not as it seems.
“It’s going to be a wild ride.”
Bizbit
DIRECTOR Martin Scorsese is working with Disney+ on a documentary about The Beatles.
Beatles ’64, which will air on November 29, will look at the band’s first trip to the US 60 years ago.
It has been made with the help of surviving Beatles Paul McCartney And Ringo Starr.
COLIN IN PLANE HORROR
SKY has released a first look at new drama Lockerbie, based on the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103.
Colin Firth plays Dr Jim Swire, who became a spokesman for the victims’ families after his daughter Flora was killed in the terrorist attack that brought the plane down over the Scottish town of Lockerbie.
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He is joined by Catherine McCormack as wife Jane.
The snap sees King’s Speech actor Colin hold up a piece of paper detailing how the flight “exploded after 38 minutes”.
The drama will follow Swire’s 30-year battle for the truth, including a visit to Libya to meet dictator Colonel Gaddafi who took responsibility for attack that killed all 259 people on board.
Lockerbie: A Search For Truth airs on January 2 on Sky Atlantic and NOW.
KEIRA CALLS THE SHOTS IN SPY THRILLER
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY looks like she’s just fired the fatal shot in this new promo for Netflix thriller Black Doves.
The actress plays Helen Webb, a down-to-earth wife and mother, who is also a spy that has been spilling her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy Black Doves organisation.
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A first look at the six-parter sees her dripping with blood as she sits in the car beside her old friend Sam, played by Ben Whishaw.
He has been called in to keep her safe after the assassination of her lover Jason, played by Peaky Blinders’ Andrew Koji.
And sporting a baby bump clearly isn’t slowing her down from uncovering the truth.
As Helen and Sam set off to find out who killed Jason, they are led into a conspiracy linking London’s criminal underworld to a looming geopolitical crisis.
Overseeing the action is spymaster Reed, played by Happy Valley’s Sarah Lancashire.
The series, which has already been confirmed for a second season, will drop on December 5 on Netflix.