Sir David Jason undertook one of the more unusual roles of his career in the classic BBC Saturday night sketch comedy show The Two Ronnies. The 85-year-old Only Fools and Horses legend provided the voice of the Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town, in 1976. This was one of the duos comedy serials that ran as part of the show. Set in Victorian London it featured a Jack the Ripper–style madman stalking the streets who killed or stunned his victims by blowing them a raspberry. The actor employed to provide this sound effect was none other than David.
Although rumours had circulated that Spike Milligan was behind the raspberry of the title, David confirmed his participation in his 2013 autobiography. David and Ronnie Barker had a long history of working together and he had featured in his hit show Porridge as well as co-starring opposite Ronnie in Open All Hours.
The story had originally been conceived as a TV special for Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, and Spike Milligan but production plans were cancelled due to Peter’s Hollywood commitments.
David didn’t reprise the role for a stage version of the comedy which ran at the St. James Theatre in London from October 30 to November 1 in 2015.
The format was a live radio show, complete with sound effects and each evening a different mystery guest was cast as the Phantom and could only be heard offstage until the reveal in the closing scenes.
The guests for the run were impressionist John Culshaw, David’s Only Fools and Horses co-star John Challis and presenter Danny Baker.
Just five years after blowing rasperries for Ronnie, David would find fame in his own right away from the character roles he was known for.
In 1981 he landed the role as charismatic wheeler-dealer Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses – a role he would play until 2003.
Although the original series aired for fifteen years from 1981 to 1996 it returned for Christmas specials after this.
These aired annually between 2001 and 2003, with the final special, “Sleepless in Peckham”, airing in 2003.