Sir David Jason’s latest book takes his loyal fans back through the highs and many lows of his journey to stardom with the life-affirming message that no matter how many setbacks you face, things will probably work out in the end.
While David, 84, is now one of the country’s most beloved actors, mainly thanks to his portrayal of Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses, art has seemed to imitate life as David’s trip to the top was somewhat of a slog.
“This time next year, we’ll be millionaires” was Del Boy’s iconic catchphrase and a line that runs through David’s fifth memoir.
The book begins following David’s hip replacement, which he says was brought on by years of “diving through serving hatches and landing off-stage on unhelpfully thin crash mats”.
During his recovery, the realities of ageing hit him rapidly and he came to the realisation that, eventually, he will have to retire.
He writes: “It’s a chilly prospect for nearly everyone in my trade. We actors spend our lives dreaming of the next role that’s going to turn up and wondering whether that’s going to be the big one… that’s the habitual mindset of the jobbing actor, almost irrespective of what stage you are at in your career.”
It’s this “habitual mindset” that forms the basis of the book.
During the early days of his career, David faced an inconceivable number of setbacks. Whether that be being “ditched” by the Monty Python boys, axed by Dad’s Army, or having his dream of cracking Hollywood scuppered by Jim Broadbent and Michael Caine
David has said that with this book, he wanted to “show that there is always hope, and often a few laughs, however improbable things may seem”, and he does just that.
Of course, the memoir is packed with anecdotes from his Only Fools and Horses days, as well as his jaunts with the showbiz glitterati; but it is David’s uplifting message that makes this book a true gem.
It also tells the beautiful story of how David was reunited with his long-lost daughter last year.
Concluding his latest tale, David says that “life if unfailingly surprising” and “if we can meet triumph and disaster and treat them both the same, we’re onto a winner”.
David Jason: This Time Last Year is published by Century.
