The cast of Only Fools And Horses: The Musical faced a shocking ordeal as they were subjected to abhorrent racist abuse from an audience member during a performance at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, West London. Bradley John and Gloria Acquaah-Harrison, who portray Denzil Tulser and Mrs Obooko respectively, were among those targeted by the repugnant heckling last Friday night.
The incident left some of the show’s stars “visibly upset”, prompting the production’s management to publicly denounce the behaviour. They released a statement asserting: “Here at Only Fools and Horses The Musical we always act with respect and kindness towards ourselves and others. We do expect our audiences to do the same.”
The statement further declared: “Any unkind comments, bullying, discrimination or any form of abuse towards our cast or company members will not be tolerated by the producers or theatres. We expect respect on and off stage.
“Commitment to maintaining a respectful and inclusive atmosphere was emphasised, with the statement adding: “We are committed to working closely with the venue teams to ensure that our cast, company and audiences embrace an environment of respect, inclusivity and safety.”
An eyewitness recounted the events to the Sun, describing the audience as “a rowdy crowd, with everyone in the Christmas spirit. But this idiot spoiled the performance for those in ear shot. Security were unable to identify the culprit and eject them.”
Another source expressed their dismay, noting that “cast members were visibly upset” and in disbelief over the hateful comments they had to endure.
The production of Only Fools and Horses The Musical in London boasts Paul Whitehouse as Grandad, with a special appearance by Vinnie Jones throughout its three-week tenure at the city’s theatre hub.
At a recent gala event, Sir David Jason, legendary for his performance as Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter in the hit BBC sitcom from 1981 to 1991, reminisced fondly over yesteryears. The 84 year old star relived cherished moments, reflecting that the musical felt like a ‘memory’.
Following the curtain call, he expressed his admiration, stating: “It’s very, very good. What I did like about it was so much of the original script was used and they did it so well that sometimes it took me by surprise. The whole show was a memory for me of the whole thing – the script, the characters. It was lovely to see them all and everybody was working so well together, very much like we did.”
Overwhelmed with nostalgia, Sir David admitted he almost ‘cried’, moved by the heartfelt tribute. He concluded with an emotional disclosure: “I’m going to have a boo now. I’m so moved.”