Clara’s Verdict
There are programmes that were popular in their time and programmes that become genuinely woven into the national fabric. Only Fools and Horses is firmly in the latter category, and this collection of Series 5 and 6 – along with the Christmas specials from 1986 to 1989 – contains some of the finest episodes John Sullivan ever wrote. David Jason’s narration is, of course, the whole point: Del Boy without David Jason is an abstraction, and here he is, every inch of that magnificent, loveable, perpetually optimistic idiot, guiding us through twelve hours and fifty-six minutes of Peckham lunacy. This is nostalgia done right.
About the audiobook
From the BBC archives and running from 1986 to 1989, this collection covers some of the richest territory in the show’s run. Series 5 includes Del’s scheme to reinvent himself as a yuppy in “Yuppy Love,” the explosive logistics of an inflatable doll consignment, and the brilliantly structured “The Longest Night.” The Christmas specials – “A Royal Flush,” “The Frog’s Legacy,” “Dates,” and “The Jolly Boys’ Outing” – represent the show at its most ambitious, with “Dates” in particular marking a significant shift in Rodney’s fortunes and Del’s emotional life.
This is, of course, the complete original soundtracks rather than a narrated adaptation: listeners hear the full cast – Nicholas Lyndhurst as Rodney, Buster Merryfield as Uncle Albert, Roger Lloyd Pack as Trigger, John Challis as Boycie – in their original performances. The BBC has noted that some small edits have been made for music copyright purposes, and that the language reflects the era in which it was first broadcast. David Jason receives the narrator credit here but this is an audio recording of the television episodes rather than a fresh reading.
Released in January 2026 by BBC Digital Audio, this is the latest in a series of Only Fools collections made available to Audible listeners.
The narration
The performances speak for themselves. Jason as Del Boy is one of the defining achievements of British television comedy – a performance so complete and so inhabited that it is difficult to imagine anyone else in the role. Lyndhurst’s Rodney provides the perfect counterweight, and the chemistry between them, audible even without visuals, is as warm as ever. The ensemble – Merryfield, Lloyd Pack, Challis, Strong, Peake-Jones – is exceptional throughout.
What readers say
This is too recent a release to have accumulated a substantial review record at the time of writing, though it has attracted attention from listeners – the rating field shows “10 ratings” in the listing data. The preceding Only Fools audio collections on Audible have consistently drawn warm responses from audiences delighted to revisit the Trotters in audio form.
Who should listen?
Anyone with an affection for British comedy of the 1980s will find this a deeply pleasurable twelve-hour immersion. This is also an excellent introduction for younger listeners encountering the show for the first time – the writing remains sharp across all the episodes, and the 1986-1989 period captures Sullivan at the height of his powers. Those who grew up with Del Boy and Rodney will need no encouragement. Those who didn’t should start here and work outwards.
