Licensed to Drill
"Licensed to Drill" | |
---|---|
Only Fools and Horses episode | |
Directed by | Malcolm Taylor |
Written by | John Sullivan |
Running time | 27 minutes and 5 seconds |
List of episodes |
"Licensed to Drill" is an educational episode of the sitcom Only Fools and Horses.[1][2] Even though it was shown in various schools throughout the UK from 1984 onwards (mainly in science lessons), it has never broadcast. There was some confusion as to who wrote this episode, as the writing credit at the end is to Brian Hague, and not John Sullivan. This credit, however, refers to the documentary clip that the Trotters watched on the television during the episode.[citation needed] John Sullivan wrote the script, as well as writing and singing the theme song, "Licensed to Drill". This episode was Lennard Pearce's final appearance as Grandad as he died not long afterwards.
The episode finally aired as part of The Story of Only Fools and Horses in 2017.
Synopsis
As Rodney and Grandad watch a war movie, Del Boy who had earlier returned from the cafe with a magazine about oil and is now reading it while lying on the couch, begins educating his younger brother and grandfather, explaining all the products which would not exist without oil. He then insists that they watch a short film being shown on TV about the Maureen off shore oil rig. When the film is over, Del goes to bed after insisting that Rodney read the magazine in time for an important business meeting which will occur the next day.
When Rodney wakes up the following morning, he finds a strange man in the flat, and it emerges that Del has just concluded a deal with him. He explains that he has bought an oil rig for £400, intending for them to drill for oil themselves. However, Rodney points out to a seemingly unaware Del that offshore oil rigs are located hundreds of miles offshore (not hundreds of yards as Del appeared to presume), and Del suddenly realises that he has been conned.
Del attempts to give chase to the mysterious man he called "Paddy" who has, in Rodney's words "done you up like a kipper" but is prevented from doing so when Rodney informs him that the van is out of petrol. On this ironic note Del, jaw agape, stares into the camera before attempting to throttle his younger brother as the credits begin to roll. We briefly see the "Paddy" character smoking a cigar and laughing triumphantly in his car outside the flat before he drives off.
Episode cast
Actor | Role |
---|---|
David Jason | Derek Trotter |
Nicholas Lyndhurst | Rodney Trotter |
Lennard Pearce | Grandad Trotter |
Iain Blair | "Paddy" Oil Man |
References
- v
- t
- e
- "Big Brother"
- "Go West Young Man"
- "Cash and Curry"
- "The Second Time Around"
- "A Slow Bus to Chingford"
- "The Russians Are Coming"
- "The Long Legs of the Law"
- "Ashes to Ashes"
- "A Losing Streak"
- "No Greater Love"
- "The Yellow Peril"
- "It Never Rains..."
- "A Touch of Glass"
- "Homesick"
- "Healthy Competition"
- "Friday the 14th"
- "Yesterday Never Comes"
- "May the Force Be with You"
- "Wanted"
- "Who's a Pretty Boy?"
- "Happy Returns"
- "Strained Relations"
- "Hole in One"
- "It's Only Rock and Roll"
- "Sleeping Dogs Lie"
- "Watching the Girls Go By"
- "As One Door Closes"
- "From Prussia with Love"
- "The Miracle of Peckham"
- "The Longest Night"
- "Tea for Three"
- "Video Nasty"
- "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"
- "Yuppy Love"
- "Danger UXD"
- "Chain Gang"
- "The Unlucky Winner Is..."
- "Sickness and Wealth"
- "Little Problems"
- "The Sky's the Limit"
- "The Chance of a Lunchtime"
- "Stage Fright"
- "The Class of '62"
- "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Uncle"
- "Three Men, a Woman and a Baby"
- "Christmas Crackers" (1981)
- "Diamonds Are for Heather" (1982)
- "Thicker than Water" (1983)
- "To Hull and Back" (1985)
- "A Royal Flush" (1986)
- "The Frog's Legacy" (1987)
- "Dates" (1988)
- "The Jolly Boys' Outing" (1989)
- "Rodney Come Home" (1990)
- "Miami Twice" (1991)
- "Mother Nature's Son" (1992)
- "Fatal Extraction" (1993)
- "Heroes and Villains" (1996)
- "Modern Men" (1996)
- "Time on Our Hands" (1996)
- "If They Could See Us Now" (2001)
- "Strangers on the Shore" (2002)
- "Sleepless in Peckham" (2003)
- The Funny Side of Christmas: "Christmas Trees" (1982)
- "Licensed to Drill" (1984)
- "White Mice" (1985)
- "Royal Variety Show" (1986)
- "The Robin Flies at Dawn" (1990)
- "Comic Relief special" (1997)
- "Beckham in Peckham" (2014)