GOODBYE, JOHN SULLIVAN...

The cast of ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES- Uncle Albert (Buster Merryfield), Del Boy (David Jason) and Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst)- created by the late John Sullivan. Image: BBC.

During the 1980's landscape of UK television, the BBC was pole position against its rivals when it came to making great and memorable comedy series, namely due to the brilliant writing instincts of one man: the now legendary John Sullivan, who sadly died yesterday at the so young age of 64. His comedy creations- the David Jason/Nicholas Lyndhurst starring gem about a wheeler dealer family, the Trotters, living in suburban Peckham: ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES, the will they/won't they get back together again romantic comedy JUST GOOD FRIENDS (starring Paul Nicholas and Jan Francis), DEAR JOHN (showcasing the late character actor Ralph Bates, brilliantly getting a firm foothold into comedy playing a man coming to terms with a nasty divorce and trying to re-build his life amongst unique new friends at a singles club (so good it was re-made as a US series)) and one of his earliest created series, CITIZEN SMITH (starring Robert Lindsay as Wolfie Smith (Smiffy), the Che Guevara wannabe leader of the Communist Tooting Popular Front of South London!), would quickly cement themselves amongst the very finest of his work, and which, as well as being well made by great behind the scenes teams and brought to life by the finest actors, will surely live for as long as there are people around to enjoy a good belly laugh or hundred...

Classic clip: ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES episode YUPPY LOVE: YouTube - Best moment in only fools and horses! Del Boy bar fall

Classic clip: ONLY FOOLS AND HORSE episode TEA FOR THREE: YouTube - Only fools and Horses - Hand Gliding

Classic clip: DEAR JOHN first episode: YouTube - DJ Episode 1 Part 2/3

Classic titles: CITIZEN SMITH: YouTube - Tv Theme Citizen Smith

Classic clip: JUST GOOD FRIENDS: YouTube - Just Good Friends Episode 6 (Part 1)

All of these series are now available on DVD from the BBC/ 2ENTERTAIN and are shown on and off on the UK TV digital satellite channels.