Sir David Jason says that he lives in Del Boy's shadow
David Jason has revealed that a beloved Only Fools and Horses star suffered a scary injury live on stage that saw him rushed to hospital.
The late Harry 'Buster" Merryfield who famously played Uncle Albert in the iconic TV sitcom, shocked onlookers when he suffered a nasty fall while heading onto the stage at The British Comedy Awards to collect a gong for the show.
"Neither Nick nor I could make it to the Comedy Awards that night," wrote Sir David in his new book This Time Next Year. "But Buster Merryfield, who played uncle Albert, Gwyneth Strong, who played Cassandra, and Ken McDonald, who played Mike the barman, went along to do the necessary.
"Jonathan Ross was comparing..." he continued. "'And the award goes to Only Fools and Horses.' Up went the Only Fools party to receive their due. Buster enthusiastically leading the way.
"I think a lot of people assumed at first that what happened next was a stunt – Buster simply entering into the spirit of the occasion on British comedy's biggest night and producing some more British comedy, Uncle Albert-style, there and then off the cuff.
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"But Buster tripped over just before reaching the steps, at the side of the stage and went down with a right old thump. "And there really wasn’t anything funny about it from his point of view," he explained. "It was a properly nasty fall. He banged his head on the edge of the steps, splitting the skin above his eye.
"Much kerfuffle and consternation ensued. What was wrong with Buster? Had he tripped? Had he collapsed? How bad was the wound? All of this stuff had to be weighed in a hurry and live on television too.
"The gang made it onto the stage - Buster bravely among them with a bloodied hand. The extent of the damage now visible and the prize was handed over albeit rather anxiously and with an understandably muted atmosphere in the room.
"'Comedies are tough business,' said Ken, making what must have been one of the briefest, acceptance speeches an awards night has ever seen. 'A tough business,' confirmed Buster and then he was quickly ushered off to be patched up.
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"Honestly, I let these people out of my sight for five minutes and look what happens. "But all credit to Buster, bless his memory for getting back on his feet, deciding it was only a flesh wound getting up on that stage and obeying to the letter the age old theatrical maxim: The Award Show Must Go On."
The Awards Show took place in 1997 and two years later the veteran actor lost his life at age 78 to a brain tumour. His wife of 57 years, Iris, was at his bedside when he died. Sir David said of his co-star at the time: "Buster Merryfield is a great loss personally as well, of course, to his family and the rest of the country.
"He was a great man and a joy to work with and I will seriously miss him both as a friend and as an actor." Nicholas Lyndhurst, who played Rodney, said: "I was shocked and saddened to hear of Buster's death.
"He was a gentle, sweet-natured man and he will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. He made the part of Uncle Albert a national institution." He had become a household name after joining the hit comedy in 1984. The final show was aired at Christmas 1996.
