£1m to bring Del back

The BBC has finally confirmed that Only Fools and Horses is to return.

Three new episodes are planned to spearhead the Christmas ratings assault, with the first being screened on Christmas Day.

And The Guardian reports that each episode will cost £1million - twice the normal sitcom budget - with star David Jason pocketing £100,000 a time.

The show is one of the corporation's biggest bankers. On its last outing in Christmas 1996, it attracted more than 23 million viewers.

In that episode the Trotters finally achieved their ambition to become millionaires.

However, scriptwriter John Sullivan is believed to be working on a story that sees them back on their uppers again.

The new script is said to open with the funeral of Uncle Albert. Buster Merryfield, the actor who played him, died two years ago,

Published: 8 Aug 2001