Les Dennis joins Only Fools and Horses musical as it extends in the West End

Les Dennis will join the West End production of Only Fools And Horses from 3 October, it has been announced.

Dennis, whose 50 year showbiz career spans comedy, game show host, reality TV star, soap, screen and stage actor, will play loveable ‘Grandad’.

Les Dennis said: “I am so excited to be playing Grandad in ‘Only Fools and Horses The Musical’. Like everyone else, I would tune in weekly to watch the hilarious exploits of the Trotters and would laugh and cry in equal measure. It was both funny and touching. Jim Sullivan and Paul Whitehouse have written a wonderful show that beautifully recreates that feel-good era of British comedy. I can’t wait to join the hugely talented cast and be a part of it. Lovely jubbly!”

Dennis’ West End stage roles include Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray, Amos Hart in Chicago and Bill Snibson in Me and My Girl. Whilst often remembered for hosting Family Fortunes and appearing on Coronation Street, the veteran stage actor has also appeared in off-West End shows End of the Pier (Park Theatre), She Loves Me (Menier Chocolate Factory) and touring productions of High School Musical 2, Legally Blonde The Musical, The Addams Family and Hairspray.

RELATED: Love Island new dating show 

Directed by Caroline Jay Ranger, the show has been seen by over 600,000 people since it opened in the West End to an array of fantastic reviews from critics and fans alike in February 2019.  The Sun awarded five stars, hailing it “One Del of a show!”; the Daily Mirror said it was “a treat for Trotter fans” in their five-star review; The Sunday Times bestowed four stars and remarked that “Only Fools is a blast from our wide-boy past. A hearty stage adaptation of the 1980s BBC television comedy”. Evening Standard also awarded four stars, complimenting the “unashamedly British night out. A jubilant lovely jubbly!” While the Daily Mail urged its readers to “raise a glass of Tittinger to Del Boy and Rodney as Only Fools and Horses storms the West End!”

Based on John Sullivan’s iconic series starring David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, the stage adaptation incorporates many of the classic moments from the tv show as well as new material. Co-written by Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan, John Sullivan’s son, the musical has been a roaring success at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.

Audiences are transported back to pre-gentrified Peckham aka 1989 to find Del Boy looking for love, Rodney and Cassandra preparing to get married, Boycie and Marlene giving parenthood one final shot and Grandad taking stock of his life.

The musical features the show’s original theme song, as well as most of the show’s popular characters, including Trigger, Raquel, Denzil, Mickey Pearce, Mike the Barman and the dreaded Driscoll Brothers.

Dennis takes over from Paul Whitehouse who originated the role in the show.

It was also revealed the show is extending at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and tickets are now available to book to 7 January 2023.

Only Fools and Horses The Musical is currently booking until 7 January 2023 at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London.