Only Fools and Horses icon David Jason calls out big Hollywood stars who are ‘extremely difficult and a pain’ as he reveals touching gesture from the ‘nicest guy’ in showbusiness

David Jason has called out Hollywood stars that are ‘extremely difficult’ to work with, as he revealed the touching gift he had been given from his late friend Ronnie Barker.

The Only Fools and Horses star, 84, formed a strong bond with comedy legend Ronnie, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 76.

The pair first worked together in 1969, going on to both star in The Odd Job before their roles opposite each other in Porridge, Seven of One and most famously, Open All Hours.

David has said that he owes much of his success to Ronnie, who served as his mentor at the start of his career, with Ronnie later citing David as one of his best friends.

Appearing on The Chris Moyles Show on Wednesday morning, David gushed that Ronnie had been the ‘nicest guy’ and revealed that the late star had once given him a heartwarming gift when he retired.

The Only Fools and Horses star, 84, formed a strong bond with comedy legend Ronnie, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 76 (pictured together in 1990)

The pair first worked together in 1969, going on to both star in The Odd Job before their roles opposite each other in Porridge, Seven of One and most famously, Open All Hours (pictured)

He explained: ‘Well, it’s a well-known fact that I used to call him The Governor. And he was. What was really good about Ronnie Barker, and why he was so lovely – he and I became very good friends during Open All Hours – but the main reason why I liked him so much is that he had time for everybody. 

‘And he was the nicest guy that you could possibly meet, and he was at the top of his tree, for me, which is comedy acting, and I just got used to calling him The Governor. 

‘And so, because of that, later on when he retired, he wrote me a certificate, if you like, in wonderful old-fashioned writing. And it’s all done, and it’s about a foot wide by about two foot long. 

And it was, “It’s all done here, here by Sir Ronnie Barker, here with under following messages will give to his honourable friend, Sir David Jason, the title of The Governor I shall now relinquish”.’

David then confessed that the touching presented is now proudly displayed in his downstairs toilet.

He then went on to praise Ronnie’s generosity with everyone he worked with, before hitting out at celebrities who could be ‘extremely difficult and a pain’.

He gushed: ‘But the great thing about Ronnie B was, which I learned, which was so generous with the whole team. 

‘He knew that the only way you can get a successful show is to incorporate and encourage the team that you have. So, he had time for everybody, and he was generous of spirit and of time. 

Appearing on The Chris Moyles Show on Wednesday morning, David gushed that Ronnie had been the ‘nicest guy’ and revealed that the late star had once given him a heartwarming gift when he retired

He then went on to praise Ronnie’s generosity with everyone he worked with, before hitting out at celebrities who could be ‘extremely difficult and a pain’ (pictured in 2003)

‘And because you do hear – no names, no pack drill – mainly some of the big names coming out of Hollywood who can be extremely difficult and a pain.’

Last week, David also took the opportunity to throw shade at self-obsessed members of the showbiz industry who don’t respect their teams around them.

Appearing on This Morning on Thursday, he called out his fellow stars who were ‘selfish and rude’ and refused to share the spotlight, though he remained tight-lipped on exactly who he was referring to. 

He said: ‘I do hear stories – no names – of certain members of our entertainment industry who are very selfish and rude and can be selfish, rude, to the point of being vulgar. 

‘In other words they don’t respect the team. They say that, “Oh, it’s me. I’m famous, you stay there I’ll have my close-up, don’t cut to them!”‘

It comes after the Touch of Frost star admitted that he blames movie stars Michael Caine and Jim Broadbent for his failure to crack Hollywood at the age of 84.

David – who is best known for playing Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter on Only Fools And Horses – explained he had also hoped to make an impact on the big screen.

However, after having meetings to discuss two big parts he was being considered for last year, he later discovered these roles were given to Michael, 91, and Jim, 75.

Last week, David also took the opportunity to throw shade at self-obsessed members of the showbiz industry who don’t respect their teams around them and refuse to share the spotlight (pictured on This Morning last week)

Writing about his big screen ambitions in his new memoir This Time Next Year, 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’.

David explained he was up for roles in two films released in 2023 – being beaten out by Jim for the titular role in The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry.

While Michael securing the part of a Dunkirk war veteran who breaks out of his nursing home to attend the 70th anniversary commemorations in France in The Great Escaper.

David admitted: ‘I thought it was going to be me escaping from the care home and going to look for my Dunkirk chums. It’s the hope that kills you.’

In an ironic twist of fate, Jim had originally been offered the role of Del Boy but ended up turning it down due to theatre commitments.

He ended up starring in three episodes of the beloved show as bent copper Roy Slater and later admitted: ‘As it turned out David Jason was perfect and he played Del Boy far better than I could have done.’

But David recently admitted that he feels haunted by his most famous role in a candid interview on BBC Breakfast with Jon Kay on Tuesday. 

It comes after the star admitted that he blames movie stars Michael Caine (pictured left) and Jim Broadbent (pictured right) for his failure to crack Hollywood at the age of 84

David – who is best known for playing Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter on Only Fools And Horses – explained he had also hoped to make an impact on the big screen (pictured in show with Nicholas Lyndhurst and Lennard Pearce)

He explained that the overwhelming success of Only Fools And Horses has overshadowed his other work and that he feels the ‘ghost’ of Derek Trotter is following him.

He said: ‘That Derek Trotter thing, he’s a bit of a ghost that comes along behind me like A Christmas Carol.’

The star expressed frustration that despite a decades-long career in film and television he is most know for playing Del Boy. 

He said the character ‘only hangs me back, only upsets me slightly is because that seems to be the only thing that people remember me for.’

‘I’m delighted in one way that it’s reached so many people and they’ve enjoyed what I’ve done with the character, but I’ve done so many other things that everybody seems to have forgotten about. It’s like I’ve only ever played Derek Trotter.’

David revealed that while he isn’t disappointed with his career, there are still so many goals he hasn’t achieved and put that down to Del Boy hanging over him.

The star explained: ‘My real disappointment or regret, if you like, is I always wanted to be a National Theatre player. 

‘I always wanted to be on the stage of the National Theatre. It was just that romantic image of playing those big productions with all those big, wonderful actors. That never happened.’

But David recently admitted that he feels haunted by his most famous role in a candid interview on BBC Breakfast with Jon Kay on Tuesday 

He explained that the overwhelming success of Only Fools And Horses has overshadowed his other work and that he feels the ‘ghost’ of Derek Trotter is following him 

When host Jon suggested he still had time to realise his dream of taking to the stage, Jason replied that his time may have run out, explaining that his memory is not what it was.

He said: ‘Well you wonder whether the old memory would be quite good enough. I could do it with the autocue things.’.

But seeming to shake off his melancholy mood, he then playfully turned to the camera and said: ‘Hey! Yes, National Theatre, I’m available!’

Tune into The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X weekdays from 6:30am – 10am and on Global Player.