David Jason: My Life

About this book

The long-awaited autobiography of one of Britains best-loved actors Born the son of a Billingsgate market porter at the height of World War II David Jason spent his early life dodging bombs and bullies both with impish good timing. Giving up on an unloved career as an electrician he turned his attention to acting and soon through a natural talent for making people laugh found himself working with the leading lights of British comedy in the 1960s and 1970s: Eric Idle Michael Palin Bob Monkhouse and Ronnie Barker. Barker would become a mentor to David leading to hugely successful stints in Porridge and Open All Hours. It wasnt until 1981 kitted out with a sheepskin jacket a flat cap and a clapped-out Reliant Regal that David found the part that would capture the nations hearts: the beloved Derek "Del Boy" Trotter in Only Fools and Horses. Never a one-trick pony he had an award-winning spell as TVs favorite detective Jack Frost took a country jaunt as Pop Larkin in the Darling Buds of 05 and even voiced a crime-fighting cartoon rodent in the much-loved childrens show Danger Mouse. But life hasnt all been so easy: from missing out on a key role in Dads Army to nearly drowning in a freak diving accident David has had his fair share of ups and downs and has lost some of his nearest and dearest along the way. Davids is a touching funny and warm-hearted story which charts the course of his incredible five decades at the top of the entertainment business. Hes been a shopkeeper and a detective inspector a crime-fighter and a market trader and he aint finished yet. As Del Boy would say its all cushty.