Uncut Only Fools and Horses - Will it ever happen?
Discussion
Every now and again on the OFAH forums I hear the rumour that the BBC will finally release the full complete set of episodes completely uncut. I remember hearing on the old IMDB forums someone mention they had heard from the BBC (this was back in 2015/16 I think) that they were planning to release them uncut on DVD that year, but obviously nothing has come of it.
They seem to have a big issue with releasing those episodes, some of which have been cut to pieces (example is the Miami Twice ep from 1991), yet almost every other TV show they aren't bothered with. Even episodes themselves the BBC are obsessed with removing from media sites if anyone uploads them. I remember a facebook group in which there were uncut episodes, yet soon after it was removed. If this was say Dad's Army, Porridge, Open All Hours, etc, they wouldn't bud an eye lid. It's like they don't want those episodes to be seen. Even if you try and upload an OFAH documentary or even a short clip they will delete it. Yet there are lots of other shows that they don't bother with, I have the recording of the OFAH Selection Box (aired after the 1996 trilogy), which apparently has been released on VHS but not DVD. I don't think it's ever been repeated, not even on Gold. I've heard you can get uncut eps on ITunes, but I aint paying for a show when I can't keep it. Plus it's not the same as being on DVD/Bluray.
I think the only way to watch uncut versions of those episodes is to get hold of an early VHS recording (unlikely for the very early pre Uncle Albert series for lots of reasons, mainly because hardly anyone in the early 80s had a video recorder, and secondly because noone was bothered about the show then). Even UKGold cut them sometimes. I remember watching Miami Twice on Gold and was gutted when they cut a bit out of the scene where they are running through the Everglades. That particularly ep is annoying to watch on home video when you've already seen it on its original broadcast, particularly with the background music in the nightclub and the abrupt cut in conversation with Del, Rodney and Ricco. The laughter track does not feel right.
They seem to have a big issue with releasing those episodes, some of which have been cut to pieces (example is the Miami Twice ep from 1991), yet almost every other TV show they aren't bothered with. Even episodes themselves the BBC are obsessed with removing from media sites if anyone uploads them. I remember a facebook group in which there were uncut episodes, yet soon after it was removed. If this was say Dad's Army, Porridge, Open All Hours, etc, they wouldn't bud an eye lid. It's like they don't want those episodes to be seen. Even if you try and upload an OFAH documentary or even a short clip they will delete it. Yet there are lots of other shows that they don't bother with, I have the recording of the OFAH Selection Box (aired after the 1996 trilogy), which apparently has been released on VHS but not DVD. I don't think it's ever been repeated, not even on Gold. I've heard you can get uncut eps on ITunes, but I aint paying for a show when I can't keep it. Plus it's not the same as being on DVD/Bluray.
I think the only way to watch uncut versions of those episodes is to get hold of an early VHS recording (unlikely for the very early pre Uncle Albert series for lots of reasons, mainly because hardly anyone in the early 80s had a video recorder, and secondly because noone was bothered about the show then). Even UKGold cut them sometimes. I remember watching Miami Twice on Gold and was gutted when they cut a bit out of the scene where they are running through the Everglades. That particularly ep is annoying to watch on home video when you've already seen it on its original broadcast, particularly with the background music in the nightclub and the abrupt cut in conversation with Del, Rodney and Ricco. The laughter track does not feel right.
I've got all episodes on VHS apart from the final three which to me shouldn't have been made. I need to get hold of a mate's video player so I can connect it up to my Mac and digitise it. I have all seven season's and a few specials on DVD and they even changed to music when Damian was born. Quite frustrating to be honest.
Escy said:
Were they cut for things considered racist now or other reasons?
Yes, there's a bit of that, but also for audio copyright reasons (too expensive to clear certain songs which were only originally cleared for a couple of showings or just for broadcast not physical sale).There was a magazine released (I believe early 2000s) which had a DVD with each issue and these I believe are about as uncut as you can find, it has the uncut episode of A Royal Flush which I think only aired once. I picked up a set on eBay a few years ago, and would recommend, they come up quite regularly:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Complete-Magazine-Dvd-C...
There are even some scenes which were never broadcast -
-Friday the 14th has a scene where the three of them stop at a pub
-The Jolly Boys Outing has a scene where Del chats to a couple of other guests at the Villa Bella (You can google a picture of this)
-Modern Men has a scene where Albert tells Del that a former lover of his had a miscarriage some years back
The biggest one I would love to see are the scenes that were filmed with Leonard Pierce for 'A Hole In One' before his death.
-Friday the 14th has a scene where the three of them stop at a pub
-The Jolly Boys Outing has a scene where Del chats to a couple of other guests at the Villa Bella (You can google a picture of this)
-Modern Men has a scene where Albert tells Del that a former lover of his had a miscarriage some years back
The biggest one I would love to see are the scenes that were filmed with Leonard Pierce for 'A Hole In One' before his death.
For me this is the best TV series ever.
I still watch them regularly on Gold but the first few years look quite dated now and not as funny as later ones imo. Even I raise my eyebrows at Rodney openly reading a soft porn mag, and the page 3 girls-tits-covered-with-bags-of-peanuts behind the bar and the odd slightly racist (by today's standard) comment.
So many classic moments. One of my favourites after they have trashed the chandelier when cleaning it:
Butler: you'll have to pay for this
Del: send us the bill, you do have our address don't you?
Butler: don't think so
del: good ... then legs it.
I still watch them regularly on Gold but the first few years look quite dated now and not as funny as later ones imo. Even I raise my eyebrows at Rodney openly reading a soft porn mag, and the page 3 girls-tits-covered-with-bags-of-peanuts behind the bar and the odd slightly racist (by today's standard) comment.
So many classic moments. One of my favourites after they have trashed the chandelier when cleaning it:
Butler: you'll have to pay for this
Del: send us the bill, you do have our address don't you?
Butler: don't think so
del: good ... then legs it.
Got the full seaon off Play store for 15 quid a few years back, best money spent.
Just watching now, and Del does say racists things, but if you actually see and look at what he does, he clearly isn't racist. He actually deals and notices the culture differences but still buys and sells and has friends. In reality this gets washed out by a few dated words.
Just watching now, and Del does say racists things, but if you actually see and look at what he does, he clearly isn't racist. He actually deals and notices the culture differences but still buys and sells and has friends. In reality this gets washed out by a few dated words.
I know the ones they show on UK Gold are edited due to the un-PC language, racist, sexist and homophobic remarks but watching a few over the weekend and they've edited out key parts of the scenes.
Two examples, in the Royal Flush were Rodney wants to take the posh bird to the Opera, they cut out the bit were Del says he'll get tickets from 'Limpy Lionel the ticket tout ( does limp wristed impression). So it cuts from Rodney wanting tickets to the limo pulling up outside the theatre.
Then in The Frogs Legacy, Trigger tells Rodney and Albert that Del has accepted an invitation to his niece Lisa's wedding, at the end of the scene Del says 'I'm off down the Ch!nkies', that bit is cut out and suddenly they are at the wedding. That bit of the story leads on to the presents were Deal swaps the labels and Rodney asks Del if they came from the Chinese auction.
They are cutting out parts that lead onto the rest of the story further on in the episode. The language is very much of it's time but what is wrong with just putting disclaimer, no need to butcher what is a great show.
One of my favorite lines
Rodney - Oi, Where did you get that gun from?
Del - Higgy Higgins
Rodney - Higgy Higgins robs banks!
Del - Yeah I know.. but it's Saturday
Two examples, in the Royal Flush were Rodney wants to take the posh bird to the Opera, they cut out the bit were Del says he'll get tickets from 'Limpy Lionel the ticket tout ( does limp wristed impression). So it cuts from Rodney wanting tickets to the limo pulling up outside the theatre.
Then in The Frogs Legacy, Trigger tells Rodney and Albert that Del has accepted an invitation to his niece Lisa's wedding, at the end of the scene Del says 'I'm off down the Ch!nkies', that bit is cut out and suddenly they are at the wedding. That bit of the story leads on to the presents were Deal swaps the labels and Rodney asks Del if they came from the Chinese auction.
They are cutting out parts that lead onto the rest of the story further on in the episode. The language is very much of it's time but what is wrong with just putting disclaimer, no need to butcher what is a great show.
One of my favorite lines
Rodney - Oi, Where did you get that gun from?
Del - Higgy Higgins
Rodney - Higgy Higgins robs banks!
Del - Yeah I know.. but it's Saturday
Edited by sutoka on Wednesday 9th December 02:11
viggyp said:
I've got all episodes on VHS apart from the final three which to me shouldn't have been made. I need to get hold of a mate's video player so I can connect it up to my Mac and digitise it. I have all seven season's and a few specials on DVD and they even changed to music when Damian was born. Quite frustrating to be honest.
The music from The Omen wasn't it? 
Not wanting to pay for the licencing probably, although given the BBC has several orchestras no doubt at least one of them has already got a recording of Carmina Burana.whitesocks said:
In the episode 'To Hull And Back' Del makes a speech about Britain's tradition of going out and finding new places.
GOLD has completely cut this scene from current broadcasts.
You have to also remember that OFAH was filmed for the BBC to use the full 30 minutes of broadcast without adverts, so there's about 5 minutes they need to cut from the show. So it'll be more to do with that rather than offending retired generals at home who don't like Britain's past being spoken about like that.GOLD has completely cut this scene from current broadcasts.
I was born in 80s. I think one thing the generation that has come after me don't realise is how people spoke and what the views of the day were (in respect to homophobia/trans etc, both of which feature in OFAH).
In Edinburgh, where I am from, there where billboards in the 90s with a picture of an Asian girl, next to it was words to the effect of "If she's a (racist term), a (another racist term) or a (another racist term) then you're a racist". Many people didn't see them using such words as them being racist, they were so commonly used.
Society has changed, but programmes remain a time capsule into a different time.
In Edinburgh, where I am from, there where billboards in the 90s with a picture of an Asian girl, next to it was words to the effect of "If she's a (racist term), a (another racist term) or a (another racist term) then you're a racist". Many people didn't see them using such words as them being racist, they were so commonly used.
Society has changed, but programmes remain a time capsule into a different time.
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