View source for David Jason

{{Short description|British actor (born 1940)}}{{Use British English|date=December 2024}}
{{redirects|David John White|the cricketer|David White (New Zealand cricketer)}}
{{confused|Jason David|Jason David Frank}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix   = [[Sir]]
| name               = David Jason
| honorific_suffix   = {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=GBR|OBE}}
| image              = David Jason millies (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Jason in 2012
| birth_name         = David John White
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1940|2|2}}
| birth_place        = [[Edmonton, London|Edmonton]], [[Middlesex]], England
| occupation         = Actor
| notable_works   = {{plainlist|
* ''[[Open All Hours]]''
* ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
* ''[[The Darling Buds of May (TV series)|The Darling Buds of May]]''
* ''[[A Touch of Frost]]''
* ''[[Still Open All Hours]]''}}
| years_active       = 1963–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|Gill Hinchcliffe|30 November 2005}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/david-jason-marries-in-secret-1094299|title=David Jason marries in secret|date=1 December 2005|website=Manchester Evening News}}</ref>
| partner            = [[Myfanwy Talog]] (1977–1995; her death)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/sir-david-jason-myfanwy-talog-6175249|title=Sir David Jason opens up on tragic romance with Welsh actress|first1=Sion|last1=Morgan|date=13 October 2013|website=WalesOnline}}</ref>
| children           = 2
| relatives          = [[Arthur White (actor)|Arthur White]] (brother)
}}

'''Sir David John White''' (born 2 February 1940<ref>{{Who's Who | title=Jason, Sir David | year = 2020 | id = U21864}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = David Jason | url = https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba16c38d9 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160513194338/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba16c38d9 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 13 May 2016 | publisher = British Film Institute | access-date = 14 January 2021}}</ref>), known professionally as '''David Jason''', is an English actor. He has played [[Del Boy|Derek "Del Boy" Trotter]] in the sitcom ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'', Detective Inspector [[Jack Frost (detective)|Jack Frost]] in the drama series ''[[A Touch of Frost]],'' [[Granville (Open All Hours)|Granville]] in the sitcoms ''[[Open All Hours]]'' and ''[[Still Open All Hours]],'' and Pop Larkin in the comedy drama series ''[[The Darling Buds of May (TV series)|The Darling Buds of May]]'', as well as voicing several cartoon characters, including [[Mr. Toad]] in ''[[The Wind in the Willows (1983 film)|The Wind in the Willows]]'', the [[The BFG|BFG]] in the [[The BFG (1989 film)|1989 film of the same name]], and the title characters of ''[[Danger Mouse (1981 TV series)|Danger Mouse]]'' and ''[[Count Duckula]]''.

In September 2006, Jason had topped the poll to find [[TV's 50 Greatest Stars]], as part of [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s [[ITV 50|50th anniversary celebrations]].<ref name="TV's 50 greatest stars">{{cite web|url=http://www.bradleywalsh.co.uk/tv-tvs-50-greatest-stars.php|title=David Jason|publisher=bradleywalsh.co.uk|date=9 September 2006|access-date=10 May 2012}}</ref> He was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in 2005 for services to acting and comedy. Jason has won four [[British Academy Television Awards]] (BAFTAs), (1988, 1991, 1997, 2003), four [[National Comedy Awards|British Comedy Awards]] (1990, 1992, 1997, 2001) and seven [[National Television Awards]] (1996 twice, 1997, 2001 twice, 2002 and 2011).

==Early life==
Jason's father, Arthur Robert White, was a porter at [[Billingsgate Fish Market]], and his mother, Olwen Jones, was from [[Merthyr Tydfil]], [[Glamorgan]], Wales, and worked as a [[charwoman]]. She gave birth to twin boys at [[North Middlesex University Hospital|North Middlesex Hospital]] in [[Edmonton, London]], on 2 February 1940, but Jason's twin brother died during childbirth, and making him a [[twinless twin]]. He chose the stage name Jason because he liked ''[[Jason and the Argonauts (1963 film)|Jason and the Argonauts]]'', as the stage name "David White" was already taken, and not in tribute to his dead twin as has sometimes been claimed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hughes |first=Heather |url=http://www.tv.com/people/david-jason/ |title=David Jason |publisher=TV.com |access-date=13 June 2012 |archive-date=30 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930110436/http://www.tv.com/people/david-jason/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Jason lived at Lodge Lane, [[North Finchley]], and attended Northfield Secondary Modern school after failing the [[Eleven-plus|11-plus]] in 1951.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3621779/The-return-of-the-secondary-modern.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3621779/The-return-of-the-secondary-modern.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=The return of the secondary modern|first=Cassandra|last=Jardine|date=4 August 2004|website=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Upon leaving school, Jason wanted to be an actor, influenced by his elder brother (Arthur White), but their father advised that he first learn a trade. He trained as an [[electrician]] for six years, before retiring and becoming a struggling actor.

Jason's elder brother is the actor [[Arthur White (actor)|Arthur White]], born in 1933. The two appeared together in the crime drama ''[[A Touch of Frost]]'', with Arthur playing police archivist Ernie Trigg; in 2006 they appeared in [[Terry Pratchett's Hogfather]] and again in 2008, in the [[Fantasy comedy|comic fantasy]] ''[[The Colour of Magic (TV film)|The Colour of Magic]]'', where Arthur played a character called "Rerpf". He also appeared briefly with his brother in two episodes of ''[[The Darling Buds of May (TV series)|The Darling Buds of May]]''.

When Jason was 15, he spent a year working as a mechanic's assistant. When he turned 16, he was eligible to register for an apprenticeship, but decided against it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCaOVyW_d1I| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/XCaOVyW_d1I| archive-date=2023-01-26 | url-status=live|title=David Jason on TV-am in 1984| date=9 March 2010|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


==Radio and TV career==
===Early years===
Jason started his television career in the made-for-TV film ''Mother Goose'' (1965). He played Bert Bradshaw in ''[[Crossroads (British TV series)|Crossroads]]'' in 1966. In the following year, he played spoof super-hero [[Captain Fantastic (TV series)|Captain Fantastic]], among other roles, in the children's comedy series ''[[Do Not Adjust Your Set]]'' ([[Associated Rediffusion|Rediffusion London]]/[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]) with [[Eric Idle]], [[Terry Jones]], [[Denise Coffey]], and [[Michael Palin]]. [[Humphrey Barclay]], who recruited Jason to appear in ''Do Not Adjust Your Set'' (partly to counter the more [[highbrow]] style of Idle, Jones, and Palin),<ref>{{cite book|last1=Wilmut|first1=Roger|title=From Fringe to Flying Circus: Celebrating a Unique Generation of Comedy 1960–1980|date=1980|publisher=Eyre Methuen|page=181}}</ref> admired his sense of timing. The programme ended in 1969, and the character then appeared for a time in the [[Thames Television]] children's programme ''[[Magpie (TV series)|Magpie]]''. Jason appeared in the BBC comedy series ''[[Hugh and I]]'' in 1967, which starred [[Hugh Lloyd]] and [[Terry Scott]] as two friends who lived together in [[South London]]. He appeared in the ''[[Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)]]'' episode "[[That's How Murder Snowballs]]" (1969) as Abel, a framed performer in a major London theatre.

In 1968, Jason was initially cast in the role of [[Lance Corporal Jones]] in the [[Jimmy Perry]] and [[David Croft (TV producer)|David Croft]] BBC comedy ''[[Dad's Army]]''. Croft had been very impressed with Jason and believed that he had the talent to play a man much older than his real age (though he was only 28 at the time) but BBC executive [[Bill Cotton]] overruled him, casting [[Clive Dunn]] because he was better known. According to Jason, "I was cast at 12 o'clock and sacked by three."<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2003/04_april/rt_jason_bafta.shtml | title= Jason to receive this year's BAFTA Fellowship | work=BBC Online| date=7 April 2003 | access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref> Jason also missed out on the starring role of Frank Spencer in ''[[Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em]]'' in 1973 because BBC executives at the time believed that he lacked "star quality".<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/26/david-jason-rejected-lead-role-mothers-do-ave-em-bbc-execs-thought/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/26/david-jason-rejected-lead-role-mothers-do-ave-em-bbc-execs-thought/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title= David Jason rejected for lead role in Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em because BBC execs thought he lacked 'star quality' | work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | date=26 March 2021 | access-date=5 April 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In the 1970s, he also acted in radio comedies, including the weekly topical [[satire]] ''[[Week Ending]]'' (in which he regularly played such figures as then UK Foreign Secretary [[David Owen|Dr David Owen]]) and ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (radio series)|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' (as the "B Ark Captain" in the sixth episode). Jason also appeared in ''[[The Next Programme Follows Almost Immediately]]'' and made appearances on panel games such as ''The Impressionists'' as well as his own series, ''The Jason Explanation''. In the early 1970s, he appeared in ''Mostly Monkhouse''.

Jason appeared on stage in the [[West End theatre|West End]] in the [[farce]] ''[[No Sex Please, We're British]]'' playing Brian Runnicles for 18 months in 1973. He also starred with Valerie Leon in a stage comedy "Darling Mr London" which toured in 1975.

Jason appeared in variety shows as the supporting act of [[Dick Emery]] and his performances caught the attention of [[Ronnie Barker]]. Jason was recruited to appear in ''[[Hark at Barker]]'' ([[London Weekend Television|LWT]], 1969), starring opposite Barker's Lord Rustless, as Dithers, the 100-year old gardener. There was also a sequel, ''[[His Lordship Entertains]]'' (1972) for the [[BBC Television|BBC]]. Jason played [[Idealism|idealistic]] employee [[Granville (Open All Hours)|Granville]] in the first programme of the comedy anthology ''[[Seven of One]]'' (1973), called ''[[Open All Hours]]'' (BBC) and starring Barker as the curmudgeonly proprietor of a corner shop.

Four series of ''Open All Hours'' were made from 1976 to 1985. He featured in Barker's ''[[Porridge (1974 TV series)|Porridge]]'' (BBC), a prison comedy, as the elderly [[Blanco Webb|Blanco]] in three episodes. Jason also appeared with Barker in various disguises in ''[[The Two Ronnies]],'' including providing the "raspberry" sound effect for ''[[The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town]].''

Jason starred in [[London Weekend Television]]'s ''[[Lucky Feller]]'' (1975–76), written by [[Terence Frisby]] and produced by [[Humphrey Barclay]]. About two brothers in south-east London, the series was in many ways a forerunner to ''Only Fools And Horses''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Steve |title=Only some Lucky Fellers become sitcom stars : Correspondents 2012 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/correspondents/2012/09/27/16219/only_some_lucky_fellers_become_sitcom_stars |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=www.chortle.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> He played the lead role of Peter Barnes in the [[Associated Television|ATV]] sitcom ''[[A Sharp Intake of Breath]]'' (1977–81), alongside [[Alun Armstrong]] and [[Richard Wilson (Scottish actor)|Richard Wilson]]. In 1979, he appeared as [[Buttons (pantomime)|Buttons]] in the [[pantomime]] ''[[Cinderella]]'' at [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]]'s [[Theatre Royal, Newcastle|Theatre Royal]], starring Leah Bell and [[Bobby Thompson (comedian)|Bobby Thompson]], produced by Michael Grayson and directed by John Blackmore.

===Children's television===

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:The Wind in the Willows (TV series) (1984).jpeg|thumb|[[Michael Hordern]] in the middle, [[David Jason]] in the middle, [[Richard Pearson (actor)|Richard Pearson]] on the right and [[Peter Sallis]] on the left in a behind-the-scenes photograph from [[Cosgrove Hall]]'s [[The Wind in the Willows (TV series)|The Wind in the Willows]]]] -->

In the 1980s, Jason developed a working partnership with [[Cosgrove Hall]], and was a [[Voice acting|voice-over artist]] for a number of children's television productions. This included voices for ''[[Danger Mouse (1981 TV series)|Danger Mouse]]'', ''[[The BFG (1989 film)|The BFG]]'', ''[[Count Duckula]]'', Hugo from ''[[Victor and Hugo]]'', and Toad from ''[[The Wind in the Willows (TV series)|The Wind in the Willows]]'', all produced by Cosgrove Hall for [[Thames Television]]/ITV. He provided the voice of Father Christmas in ''Father Christmas and the Missing Reindeer'', Rola Polar in ''The Adventures of Dawdle the Donkey'', ''[[Angelmouse]]'', and did voices in animated films including ''[[Wombling Free]]'' and ''[[The Water Babies (film)|The Water Babies]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jason |first=David |date=2013|title=David Jason: My Life |publisher=Random House |page=1216 |isbn=9781448164202 }}</ref>

===Transition into a leading man===
[[File:David Jason millies.jpg|thumb|250px|Jason with Corporal Oliver Kennedy and [[Hermione Norris]] at the Sun Military Awards in 2012]]
In 1981, Jason was cast as [[Del Boy Trotter]] in the BBC situation comedy ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'', created by [[John Sullivan (writer)|John Sullivan]]. Del is a [[wide boy]] who makes a dishonest living in [[Peckham]], south London, trading in broken, stolen, and [[counterfeit]] goods. He is assisted by his brother Rodney (played by [[Nicholas Lyndhurst]]) and [[Grandad (Only Fools and Horses)|Grandad]] (played by [[Lennard Pearce]]) and, in later episodes, Uncle Albert (played by [[Buster Merryfield]]).

In 1989, Jason starred as Ted Simcock in the ITV drama series ''[[A Bit of a Do]]'', aired from January to December.

In 1999, Jason starred as Captain [[Frank Beck (British Army officer)|Frank Beck]] in BBC's feature-length drama ''[[All the King's Men (1999 film)|All the King's Men]]'' about the Sandringham regiment lost in [[World War I]]. He earned acclaim for a string of serious roles. These include [[Skullion]] in ''[[Porterhouse Blue]]'' (for [[Channel 4]]), Sidney "Pop" Larkin in the rural idyll ''[[The Darling Buds of May (TV series)|The Darling Buds of May]]'' ([[Yorkshire Television]]/[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]), based on the [[H. E. Bates]] novel, which also featured [[Catherine Zeta-Jones]].

In 1992, he signed a [[golden handcuffs]] deal with ITV to star as [[Jack Frost (detective)|Detective Inspector Jack Frost]] in the long-running TV series ''[[A Touch of Frost]]'' (Yorkshire Television/ITV). In September 2006, he was voted by the general public as No. 1 in ITV's poll of [[TV's 50 Greatest Stars|TV's Greatest Stars]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maume |first=Chris |date=2013-12-20 |title=David Jason: The critically acclaimed small screen actor who is nobody's fool {{!}} The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/david-jason-the-critically-acclaimed-small-screen-actor-who-is-nobody-s-fool-9018971.html |access-date=2024-06-08 |work=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> In December 2006, he starred in ''[[Terry Pratchett's Hogfather]]'' on [[Sky1]] as [[Albert (Discworld)|Albert]]. In early 2007, he starred in ''[[Diamond Geezer]]'' ([[Granada Television]]/ITV). This series ran for 3 episodes of 90 minutes each. There was a pilot in 2005. In March 2008, he starred as [[Rincewind]] in ''[[Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic]]'', and in the two part ITV drama ''[[Ghostboat]]''.

On 16 September 2008, Jason announced that he would step down from his role as Jack Frost after 16 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7618765.stm|title=Sir David quitting Touch of Frost|work=BBC News|access-date=16 September 2008|date=16 September 2008}}</ref> Three new episodes of the show were shown in autumn 2008, and were followed by a two-part finale in 2010. Approached by [[BBC1]] controller [[Danny Cohen (television executive)|Danny Cohen]] in early 2011, he read three scripts and agreed to shoot a pilot for ''[[The Royal Bodyguard]]'', which was shown at the [[Edinburgh Film Festival]]. The pilot episode aired on the BBC on [[Boxing Day]] but received a poor critical response. The series was axed after six episodes. In 2010, Jason starred in a made-for-TV movie ''Come Rain Come Shine'' with [[Alison Steadman]] for [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] about an elderly [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] supporter.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1729603/ |title = Come Rain Come Shine|website = [[IMDb]]}}</ref>

Since 2013, he has starred in ''[[Still Open All Hours]]''. It features many original cast members (and a portrait of [[Ronnie Barker]] as [[Arkwright]]) and is still written by [[Roy Clarke]], the original writer and creator of the show. He has also starred as Captain Skipper, a sea captain, sea dog and Pip's uncle in the animated series ''[[Pip Ahoy!]]''.

In December 2021, Jason made a surprise cameo appearance on the Christmas Special of ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'' in the role of Del Boy to pass on a special message to ''[[The Repair Shop]]'''s [[Jay Blades]], who was performing to the ''Only Fools and Horses'' theme tune.<ref>{{cite news | title = Strictly Come Dancing 2021: Sir David Jason and Huw Edwards make surprise appearance during Christmas special | work = [[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] | date = 25 December 2021 | access-date = 20 January 2022 | url = https://metro.co.uk/2021/12/25/strictly-2021-sir-david-jason-makes-surprise-cameo-in-christmas-special-15820497/}}</ref>

==Honours==
In [[1993 Birthday Honours#Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)|1993]], Jason was made an [[Order of the British Empire|Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE). Twelve years later, in the [[2005 Birthday Honours#Knights Bachelor|Queen's Birthday Honours List of 2005]], he was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] for services to acting and comedy.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=58099|page=12615|date=15 September 2006}}</ref> Upon receiving the knighthood from [[Queen Elizabeth II]] at [[Buckingham Palace]] on 1 December 2005, he said he was "humbled" by the "fantastic tribute".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4082074.stm|title=Del Boy knighted in Queen's list|date=11 June 2005|work=BBC News|access-date=19 November 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4488330.stm|title=David Jason collects knighthood|date=1 December 2005|work=BBC News|access-date=19 November 2009}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Jason lived with his long-term girlfriend, Welsh actress [[Myfanwy Talog]], for 18 years and nursed her through [[breast cancer]] until she died in 1995.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Shillcock|first1=Francesca |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/2020101398971/a-touch-of-frost-david-jason-who-is-his-wife-gill/|title=Who is David Jason married to? All you need to know|date=13 October 2020|work=[[Hello! (magazine)|Hello!]]|access-date= 28 March 2023}}</ref>

On 26 February 2001, Jason became a father at the age of 61 when his girlfriend, 41-year-old Gill Hinchcliffe, gave birth to a girl in [[Stoke Mandeville Hospital]], [[Aylesbury]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1324288/David-Jasons-new-role-as-father-at-61.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1324288/David-Jasons-new-role-as-father-at-61.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=David Jason's new role as father at 61|date=27 February 2001|work=The Telegraph|access-date=19 November 2009|location=London, UK|first=Richard|last=Alleyne}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Jason and Hinchcliffe married in 2005 and live in [[Ellesborough]], [[Buckinghamshire]].

In 2022, Jason discovered that he had another daughter, of whom he had been previously unaware, who was born in 1970 following a brief relationship with actress Jennifer Hill.<ref name="Indy28323">{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Isobel |title=Surprise is an understatement': David Jason discovers 52-year-old daughter he didn't know existed |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/david-jason-daughter-abi-harris-b2309179.html |access-date=28 March 2023 |work=Independent |date=28 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Media |first=P. A. |date=2023-03-27 |title=David Jason 'delighted' to discover 52-year-old daughter he never knew |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/27/david-jason-delighted-to-discover-52-year-old-daughter-he-never-knew |access-date=2023-03-28 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Jason is a patron of the Shark Trust,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sharktrust.org/en/sir_david_jason|title=The Shark Trust – Sir David Jason|website=sharktrust.org|access-date=17 August 2014|archive-date=19 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819091236/http://www.sharktrust.org/en/sir_david_jason|url-status=dead}}</ref> a United Kingdom registered charity working to advance the worldwide conservation of sharks through science, education, influence and action. He has also been Honorary Vice Patron of the [[Royal International Air Tattoo]] since 1999, and on 29 May 2014, presented a cheque on behalf of the [[Fairford]]-based ''RAF Charitable Trust'' for £125,000 to the [[Royal Air Force Air Cadets|RAF Air Cadet Organisation]], to fund flight simulators for Air Cadets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/del-boy-marks-trusts-1-million-moment-30052014|title='Del Boy' Marks Trust's £1 Million Moment|first=Jane|last=Leigh|date=30 May 2014|website=raf.mod.uk|access-date=17 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829040013/https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/del-boy-marks-trusts-1-million-moment-30052014|archive-date=29 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Jason is a qualified [[helicopter]] pilot.<ref name=Telegraph>{{cite news|last=Deacon|first=Michael|title=David Jason: Interview|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3561994/David-Jason-Interview.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3561994/David-Jason-Interview.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=23 December 2011|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=11 October 2008|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Jason has expressed a negative opinion of the [[European Union]] (EU), being quoted in a 2012 interview with "the [[States of Germany|Germans]] want to run [[Europe]]. The irony is that here we are, the world has changed, and the Germans want to run Europe. They failed to do it by war, twice. What is it? Is this the [[Fourth Reich]]?"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/12/18/david-jason-only-fools-horses-star-germany-fourth-reich_n_1156239.html | title='At Least We're Not Throwing Bombs at Each Other': Actor David Jason on Germany's 'Fourth Reich' |work=Huffington Post| date=18 December 2011 }}</ref>

In October 2013, he released his [[autobiography]] called ''David Jason: My Life''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10367625/David-Jason-shares-his-Only-Fools-and-Horses-secrets.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013051530/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10367625/David-Jason-shares-his-Only-Fools-and-Horses-secrets.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 October 2013|title=David Jason shares his Only Fools and Horses secrets|date=10 October 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=25 October 2013}}</ref> It was shortlisted for the 2013 [[British Book Awards|Specsavers National Book Awards]] "Best Book of the Year".<ref>{{cite news|title=Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane named 2013 Book of the Year|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-25526847|access-date=9 August 2014|date=27 December 2013}}</ref> A second volume, ''Only Fools and Stories: From Del Boy to Granville, Pop Larkin to Frost'', was published in October 2017. Penguin Books announced ''A Del Of A Life'', which is Jason's third autobiography and was published in October 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 April 2020|title=A Del Of A Life|url=https://twitter.com/penguinukbooks/status/1245675039510294528?lang=en}}</ref>

In September 2017, it was reported that a "credible threat was made to his life", although it is not known why Jason had been targeted.<ref name="Death threat ">{{Cite news |url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/09/24/david-jason-pictured-arriving-on-set-with-two-security-guards-after-credible-threat-on-his-life-6951921/?ito=fb |title=David Jason pictured arriving on set with two security guards after 'credible threat' on his life |last=Deen |first=Sarah |date=24 September 2017 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref>

==Works==

===Books===

* {{cite book|last1=Jason|first1=David|author-mask=0|title=David Jason: My Life|year=2013|publisher=Random House|isbn=978-1448164202}}
* {{cite book|last1=Jason|first1=David|author-mask=0|title=Only Fools and Stories|year=2017|publisher=Century|isbn=978-1780897950}}
* {{cite book|last1=Jason|first1=David|author-mask=0|title=A Del of A Life: Lessons I've Learned|year=2020|publisher=Century|isbn=978-1529125115}}
* {{cite book|last1=Jason|first1=David|author-mask=0|title=The Twelve Dels of Christmas|year=2022|publisher=Cornerstone|isbn=978-1529136142}}
* {{cite book|last1=Jason|first1=David|author-mask=0|title=This Time Next Year|year=2024|publisher=[[Penguin Books|Century]]|isbn=978-1529944198}}

===Television===
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class = "unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1965
|''Mother Goose''
|King Goose
|Television film
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1966 || ''[[Softly, Softly (TV series)|Softly, Softly]]''|| Smith || Episode: "Over Take..."
|-
| ''[[Crossroads (British TV series)|Crossroads]]''|| Bert Bradshaw || 18 episodes
|-
|1967
|''[[Hugh and I]]''
|Unknown
|Episode: "Chinese Crackers"
|-
| 1967–1969 || ''[[Do Not Adjust Your Set]]'' || Various || 21 episodes
|-
|1967–1979
|''[[The Dick Emery Show]]''
|Unknown
|2 episodes
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)]]''|| Abel || Episode: "That's How Murder Snowballs"
|-
| rowspan="3" |1969
|''Galton and Simpson Comedy''
|Gordon
|Episode: "Don't Dilly Dally on the Way"
|-
| ''[[Counterstrike (1969 TV series)|Counterstrike]]''|| Taffy Sadler || Episode: "On Ice"
|-
| ''Canada Goose''|| Unknown ||Television film
|-
| 1969–1970 || ''[[Hark at Barker]]''|| Various characters ||11 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1970 || ''[[Doctor in the House (TV series)|Doctor in the House]]''|| Mr. Drobnic || Episode: "What Seems to be the Trouble?"
|-
| ''Two D's and a Dog''|| Dingle Bell ||6 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |1971
| ''[[Six Dates With Barker]]'' || Clive || Episode: "The Odd Job"
|-
| ''[[Doctor at Large (TV series)|Doctor at Large]]'' || Victor Bligh
The Toad
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1972 || ''[[His Lordship Entertains]]'' || Dithers ||7 episodes
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Seven of One]]'' || Granville || Episode: "Open All Hours"
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1974 || ''[[Doctor at Sea (TV series)|Doctor at Sea]]'' || Manuel Sanchez ||Episode: "Go Away Stowaway!"
|-
|''[[Comedy Playhouse]]''
|Quentin
|Episode: "It's Only Me: Whoever I Am"
|-
| ''[[The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs]]''|| Edgar Briggs ||13 episodes
|-
| 1975–1976 || ''[[Lucky Feller]]''|| Shorty Mopstead ||14 episodes
|-
| 1975–1977 || ''[[Porridge (1974 TV series)|Porridge]]'' || Blanco || 3 episodes<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hildred |first1=Stafford |last2=Ewbank |first2=Tim |date=2012 |title=Sir David Jason – A Life of Laughter |publisher=John Blake Publishing |isbn=9781782190721 }}</ref>
|-
| 1976–1985 || ''[[Open All Hours]]''|| [[Granville (Open All Hours)|Granville]]||25 episodes
|-
| 1977 || ''The Sound of Laughter''|| Peter Barnes ||Episode: "A Sharp Intake of Breath"
|-
|1977–1981
|''[[A Sharp Intake of Breath]]''
|Peter Barnes
|22 episodes
|-
|1978
|''[[The Les Dawson Show]]''
|Various
|Episode: #1.1
|-
| 1981–2003 || ''Only Fools and Horses''|| Derek "Del Boy" Trotter
Don Vincenzo Occhetti
|64 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |1982
|''[[Only Fools and Horses]]:'' "Christmas Trees"
|[[Del Boy|Derek "Del Boy" Trotter]]
|TV short
|-
|''[[The Funny Side of Christmas]]''
|Derek "Del Boy" Trotter
Granville
|Television film
|-
|1984
|''[[Dramarama (TV series)|Dramarama]]''
|Mr. Stabs
|Episode: "Mr. Stabs"
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Porterhouse Blue]]''|| Skullion ||4 episodes
|-
|1988
|''[[Ariel (detergent)|Ariel Liquid]]'' (advertisement)
|Mrs B
|With his co-star, [[Nicholas Lyndhurst]], as Mr H
|-
| rowspan="2" |1989
|''[[Jackanory]]''
|Storyteller
|4 episodes
|-
| ''[[A Bit of a Do]]''|| Ted Simcock||13 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |1990
|''Single Voices''
|The Chemist
|Episode: "The Chemist"
|-
|''[[ScreenPlay]]''
|George
|Episode: "[[Amongst Barbarians]]"
|-
| 1991–1993 || ''[[The Darling Buds of May (TV series)|The Darling Buds of May]]''|| Pop Larkin ||20 episodes
|-
| 1992–2010 || ''[[A Touch of Frost]]'' || [[Jack Frost (detective)|DI Jack Frost]] ||42 episodes
|-
|1993
|''[[Screen One]]''
|Billy Mac
|Episode: "The Bullion Boys"
|-
|1997
|''Only Fools and Horses:'' "Only Fools Cutaway"
|Derek "Del Boy" Trotter
|TV short
|-
| 1998 || ''March in Windy City'' || Steven March ||Television film
|-
|1999
|''[[All the King's Men (1999 film)|All the King's Men]]''
|Captain Frank Beck
|Television film
|-
|2001–2002
| ''[[Micawber (TV series)|Micawber]]'' || Wilkins Micawber ||4 episodes
|-
| 2002 || ''[[The Quest (British TV series)|The Quest]]''|| Dave ||
|-
| rowspan="2" |2004
|''The Second Quest''
|Dave
|Television film
|-
|''The Final Quest''
|Dave
|Television film
|-
| 2005–2007 || ''[[Diamond Geezer]]'' || Des ||4 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2006 || ''[[Ghostboat]]''|| Jack Hardy || Television film
|-
|''[[Prehistoric Park]]''
|Narrator
|6 episodes
|-
| ''[[Terry Pratchett's Hogfather]]''|| [[Alberto Malich]]|| Television film
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic]]'' || [[Rincewind]] ||2 episodes
|-
| 2009 || ''Albert's Memorial'' || Harry ||Television film
|-
| rowspan="2" |2010
| ''Come Rain Come Shine'' || Don ||Television film
|-
| ''David Jason: The Battle of Britain''|| Presenter ||
|-
| 2011 || ''David Jason's Greatest Escapes'' || Himself ||
|-
| 2011–2012 || ''[[The Royal Bodyguard]]'' || Captain Guy Hubble ||6 episodes
|-
| 2013–2019||''[[Still Open All Hours]]'' || [[Granville (Open All Hours)|Granville]] || 41 episodes; A revival of the original series, featuring original cast members [[Lynda Baron]] and [[Maggie Ollerenshaw]].
|-
| rowspan="2" |2014
|''Only Fools and Horses:'' "Beckham in Peckham"
|Derek "Del Boy" Trotter
|TV short
|-
|''Porridge: Inside Out''
|Narrator
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2017 || ''The Story of Only Fools and Horses''|| Himself || Six-part documentary series about the sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''.
|-
| ''David Jason: My Life On Screen''|| Himself || Three-part documentary series where Sir David Jason embarks on a journey across Britain to explore his career in television.
|-
| ''David Jason's Secret Service''|| Himself ||
|-
| 2019 || ''David Jason: Planes, Trains and Automobiles'' || Himself || Five-part documentary series about motor vehicles.
|-
| rowspan="3" |2020 || ''David Jason's Great British Inventions'' || Himself || Four-part documentary series exploring his favourite British inventions.
|-
| ''Flying For Britain with David Jason'' || Himself || 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain documentary.
|-
| ''David Jason: Britain's Favourite TV Star'' || Himself || [[Channel 5 (British TV channel)|Channel 5]] documentary; a retrospective look at David Jason's career.
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2021 || ''The Lancaster Bomber at 80 with David Jason'' || Narrator || Documentary celebrating the history of the iconic [[World War II]] bomber.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/pbnb29/the-lancaster-bomber-at-80-with-david-jason/|title=The Lancaster Bomber at 80 with David Jason|website=radiotimes.com|access-date=15 October 2021|archive-date=18 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018205414/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/pbnb29/the-lancaster-bomber-at-80-with-david-jason/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]''
|Derek "Del Boy" Trotter (uncredited)
|Episode: "Christmas Special"
|-
|2022
|''Comedy Classics: Porridge''
|Narrator
|
|-
|2023
|''[[The Apprentice (British TV series)|The Apprentice]]''
|Derek "Del Boy" Trotter (voice, as Sir David Jason)
|Episode: "Cartoons"
|-
| rowspan="2" |2024
|''David & Jay’s Touring Toolshed''
|Himself / presenter
| With co-presenter [[Jay Blades]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2023/sir-david-jason-jay-blades-touring-toolshed|title=Sir David Jason and Jay Blades MBE's Touring Toolshed commissioned for BBC Two and iPlayer|website=bbc.com/mediacentre|accessdate=23 June 2023}}</ref>
|-
|''[[Car SOS]]''
|Himself
|Episode; Datsun 240K Skyline
|-
|2026
|''Open All Hours: Inside Out''
|Himself
|''[[Open All Hours]]'' 50th anniversary documentary<ref>{{cite web|url=https://corporate.uktv.co.uk/newsroom/granville-opens-up-one-last-time-for-uandgold-in-open-all-hours-inside-out-3|title=Granville opens up one last time for U&GOLD in Open All Hours: Inside Out|website=corporate.uktv.co.uk|accessdate=17 September 2025}}</ref>
|}

===Film===
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class = "unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Under Milk Wood (1972 film)|Under Milk Wood]]'' || Nogood Boyo ||
|-
| 1973 || ''[[White Cargo (1973 film)|White Cargo]]'' || Albert Toddey ||
|-
| 1975 || ''[[Royal Flash (film)|Royal Flash]]'' || The Mayor ||
|-
| 1977 || ''[[Wombling Free]]'' || Womble || Voice
|-
| 1978 || ''[[The Odd Job]]'' || Odd Job Man ||
|-
| 2010 || ''All the Way Up''|| || Director
|}

===Animation===
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class = "unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1978 || ''[[The Water Babies (film)|The Water Babies]]'' || Cyril the Walrus ||
|-
| 1981–1992 || ''[[Danger Mouse (1981 TV series)|Danger Mouse]]''|| Danger Mouse<br>Isambard Sinclair (narrator)<br>Buggles Pigeon<br>Count Duckula<br>Various characters ||90 episodes
|-
| 1983 || ''[[The Wind in the Willows (1983 film)|The Wind in the Willows]]''|| [[Mr. Toad|Toad]]/Chief Weasel ||Television film
|-
|1984–1990
|''[[The Wind in the Willows (TV series)|The Wind in the Willows]]''
|Toad/Chief Weasel/Billy Rabbit ||48 episodes
|-
| 1988–1993 || ''[[Count Duckula]]''|| Count Duckula<br>Various characters ||46 episodes
|-
| 1989 || ''[[The BFG (1989 film)|The BFG]]'' || The BFG ||
|-
| 1989 || ''[[A Tale of Two Toads]]'' || Toad/Chief Weasel/Isambard Toad/Billy Rabbit ||<ref>https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1357895/</ref>
|-
| 1991–1999 || ''[[Victor and Hugo|Victor and Hugo: Bunglers in Crime]]''|| Hugo<br>Interpol<br>Count Duckula (1 episode)<br>Danger Mouse (1 episode) ||30 episodes
|-
| 1995 || ''[[The Snow Queen (1995 film)|The Snow Queen]]'' || Eric ||
|-
| 1996 || ''The Adventures of Dawdle the Donkey'' || Rola Polar ||20 episodes
|-
| 1997 || ''Father Christmas and the Missing Reindeer'' || [[Father Christmas]] ||Television film
|-
| 1999–2000 || ''[[Angelmouse]]''|| All the characters  || 26 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2005–2018 || ''[[Little Einsteins]]''||Additional Characters||69 episodes
|-
|''[[Doraemon]]''
|Additional Voices{{CN|date=October 2025}}
|947 episodes
|-
| 2010 || ''[[Muddle Earth]]'' || Randalf || 16 episodes
|-
| 2014–2020 || ''[[Pip Ahoy!]]'' || Skipper<br>Pasty ||22 episodes
|}

===Radio===
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class = "unsortable" | Notes
|-
| Unknown || ''Mostly Monkhouse'' || Various characters ||
|-
| 1970–1998 || ''[[Week Ending]]'' || Various characters ||
|-
| 1977–1981 || ''The Jason Explanation'' || Various characters ||
|-
| 1978 || ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (radio series)|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' || Captain of the "B" Ark<br>Caveman ||
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Book at Bedtime]]:'' ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' || Narrator ||[[BBC Radio 4]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fyzyb |title=Radio 4 Programmes – Book at Bedtime: A Christmas Carol |publisher=BBC |access-date=13 June 2012}}</ref>
|-
| 2016–2017 || ''Desolation Jests'' || || BBC Radio 4
|}

==Awards and nominations==
Jason won a total of eighteen awards between 1986 and 2011. His hit comedy show ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' won many awards. His crime drama ''[[A Touch of Frost]]'' has also won and been nominated numerous times. ''[[Porterhouse Blue]]'', ''The Second Quest'', ''[[All the King's Men (1999 tv film)|All the King's Men]]'' and ''[[A Bit of a Do]]'' have won David Jason one award each.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Group !! Award !! Film/Show !! Result
|-
| 1985
| BAFTA TV Award
| Best Light Entertainment Performance
| ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1986
| BAFTA TV Award
| Best Light Entertainment Performance
| ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1987
| BAFTA TV Award
| Best Actor
| ''[[Porterhouse Blue]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| 1988
| BAFTA TV Award
| Best Light Entertainment Performance
| ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1989
| BAFTA TV Award
| Best Light Entertainment Performance
| ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1990
| British Comedy Award
| Best TV Comedy Actor
| ''[[A Bit of a Do]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| BAFTA TV Award
| Best Light Entertainment Performance
| ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| 1992
| British Comedy Award
| Best TV Comedy Actor
| ''[[The Darling Buds of May (TV series)|The Darling Buds of May]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1996
| National Television Award
| Most Popular Comedy Performer
| ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| National Television Award
| Special Recognition Award
| ''N/a''
| {{won}}
|-
| BAFTA TV Award
| Best Comedy Performance
| ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1997
| British Comedy Award
| Best TV Comedy Actor
| ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| National Television Award
| Most Popular Actor
| ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| 1999
| National Television Award
| Most Popular Actor
| ''[[A Touch of Frost]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2000
| National Television Award
| Most Popular Actor
| ''[[A Touch of Frost]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| TV Quick Award
| Best Actor
| ''[[A Touch of Frost]]''<br>''[[All the King's Men (1999 film)|All the King's Men]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2001
| British Comedy Award
| Lifetime Achievement Award
| ''N/a''
| {{won}}
|-
| TV Quick Award
| Best Actor
| ''[[A Touch of Frost]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| National Television Award
| Most Popular Actor
| ''[[A Touch of Frost]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| National Television Award
| Most Popular Comedy Performer
| ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2002
| National Television Award
| Most Popular Actor
| ''[[A Touch of Frost]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| National Television Award
| Most Popular Comedy Performance
| ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| TV Quick Award
| Best Actor
| ''[[A Touch of Frost]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2003
| National Television Award
| Most Popular Actor
| ''[[A Touch of Frost]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| BAFTA TV Award
| [[BAFTA Fellowship]]
| ''N/a''
| {{won}}
|-
| National Television Award
| Most Popular Actor
| ''The Second Quest''<br>''[[A Touch of Frost]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2011
| National Television Award
| Outstanding Drama Performance
| ''[[A Touch of Frost]]''
| {{won}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0419248}}
* {{Screenonline name|561441|David Jason}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130322074436/http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/davidjason.htm TV Greats biography of David Jason] – From website Television Heaven
* {{discogs artist|David Jason}}
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4488330.stm Interview by BBC "David Jason collects knighthood", with video]
* [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a130342/david-jason-to-quit-frost.html David Jason Quits as Frost]
* {{British Comedy Guide|people|david_jason}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}

{{Navboxes
|title= Awards for David Jason
|list1=
{{BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award}}
{{British Academy Television Award for Best Actor 1980–1999}}
{{British Academy Television Award for Best Comedy Performance}}
{{British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance}}
{{NTA Outstanding Drama Performance}}
{{National Television Award for Special Recognition}}
{{RTS Programme Award for Best Performance by a Male Actor}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jason, David}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century English male actors]]
[[Category:Actors awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Enfield]]
[[Category:BAFTA fellows]]
[[Category:BBC television producers]]
[[Category:Best Actor BAFTA Award (television) winners]]
[[Category:Best Comedy Performance BAFTA Award (television) winners]]
[[Category:Best Entertainment Performance BAFTA Award (television) winners]]
[[Category:English autobiographers]]
[[Category:English male radio actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male voice actors]]
[[Category:English people of Welsh descent]]
[[Category:English twins]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People from Edmonton, London]]
[[Category:Television producers from London]]