This interview was originally conducted in the early 2000s and is reproduced here from our archive.
Becoming Uncle Albert
It has been four years since the death of Verwood actor Buster Merryfield. He became a national institution as old sea salt Uncle Albert in Only Fools and Horses, but in real life Buster Merryfield was a man of many parts. His daughter, Karen Andrews, invites us to share some of her memories of him.
Most children of the famous grow up with it all – the fans, the parties, seeing Dad or Mum on the box. But not Karen.
“I was an adult in my 30s when my father became a celebrity and, although he’d always been involved in amateur and then professional dramatics, he’d always been a bank manager and just my Dad to me,” she says.
Karen lives near New Milton with her husband Rod. The only clue to her famous father is the framed photo of him meeting the Duchess of York. She clearly remembers the day her father clinched the part of Uncle Albert Trotter.
“He was sitting up in bed and gave me that smile and said, ‘I’m going to be a star.’”
He was right. With his trademark white beard and cheerful grin, Buster Merryfield became one of Britain’s most recognised personalities, eventually appearing on Wogan, Esther, The National Lottery Show, Big Break and the Royal Variety Performance.
From Bank Manager to National Treasure
When he died in 1999, his funeral, attended by the Only Fools cast, made the front pages of all the national newspapers and television news. His rise was even more remarkable because Buster, an experienced actor, had never even heard of the show which was to make him a household name.
“I had never heard of it, never seen it until that night,” says Karen. “He hadn’t either. But in reading the script, he must have realised what a good part Uncle Albert was.”
Buster was summoned to read for the part in 1985 while appearing in pantomime in Windsor. The character had been hastily created by writer John Sullivan after the sudden mid-series death of actor Lennard Pearce, who played Del and Rodney’s Grandad.
In his autobiography, Buster recalled how despondent he felt.
“I did not fancy taking over a character that had already been played by somebody else. I wanted to put my personal mark on any part I played.”
He was to get the chance. After being recalled, this time to read with David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, he was offered the role. He accepted and stepped into television history.
The Phenomenon of Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses is Britain’s most successful comedy. The third episode of the Christmas 1996 trilogy, when the Trotters finally became millionaires, attracted 24.35 million viewers – roughly one third of the entire population.
It was one of the few programmes considered suitable for broadcasting during the emergency schedule changes for Princess Diana’s funeral, and again during the days following 9/11.
At the other end of the scale, the Trotters’ van was judged to be such a cultural icon that it featured in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Parade.
Only Fools and Horses is also probably the only series that could get away with showing giant inflatable sex dolls in a programme where children formed a large part of the viewership.
Behind the Scenes – Laughter and Chaos
This episode, Danger UXD – where Del acquires a truckload of dodgy dolls filled with a dangerous inflammable gas – is Karen’s favourite, and she was lucky enough to attend the live recording.
“They film the Nag’s Head scenes and the scenes in the flat in front of an audience. Then they cut that in with outdoor shots, which are shown on a screen,” she explains.
“At first, Dad was loath to say what the dolls plot was about. He was very straight about things like that, anything to do with off-colour stuff. When he finally told me, I said: ‘I’ve got to see this!’”
“It was so funny, because no one had any idea what was going to happen. When the two dolls inflate and pop up behind Del’s bar, I was laughing so loudly you can hear me on the studio recording!”
Didn’t the cast ever succumb to fits of the giggles?
“All the time. They often broke down with laughter and they’d just have to stop and do it again.”
UXD BOBBLE SET IN STOCK NOW
Favourite Episodes and Performances
Another of her favourite shows was the Batman episode and the one where the Trotters become millionaires. But Buster preferred scripts that gave him more to work with.
Karen says his favourite episode was He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Uncle, in which Albert, devastated after being mugged, runs away to Tobacco Road by the docks, the characters’ old stamping ground.
“He liked any episode where he had a lot to say and in that one he was able to show the serious side of his acting. It was very moving and even David Jason had a tear in his eye.”
“He Was Just Dad”
What was it like seeing your Dad on TV like this?
“He was just Dad really; I can’t see him as anything else. But after a while, I probably thought of him as Uncle Albert rather than my Dad in later programmes.”
Karen was used to her father being on the stage.
“It had always been his dream to become an actor, but he decided that, as a husband and father, he had to take a steadier job, so he became a bank manager instead.”
A Natural Performer
Inside that bank manager, however, was a thespian desperate to get out.
“He set up his own amateur dramatic group which won every award going. He directed, getting incredible performances out of people, and he took early retirement to take up acting professionally.”
“He did ask my mother about that, because it meant he’d be away a lot more, but he’d always put the family first so she agreed, and he went for it.”
In his time Buster Merryfield played Shakespeare, farces and musicals, and kept copious scrapbooks of all his cuttings, awards and playbills.
Talents Beyond Acting
But this was only one side of his life.
He was a talented painter – a beautiful oil of lilacs in a bowl graces Karen’s sitting room – and he was also an accomplished pianist.
“As Uncle Albert he said he always had to play like Les Dawson, but really he was very good and he’d always wanted a grand piano but never got round to buying one.”
The Man Behind the Character
Although fans would shout “Hello Uncle Albert”, there were actually very few similarities between the character and the man who played him.
“He didn’t have that strong London accent for a start. And he didn’t drink, smoke and lounge about like Uncle Albert.”
As Buster once said:
“Albert is doddery, drinks, gets out of breath too easily and smokes too much. I don’t like to see people out of condition.”
As a young man, Buster kept himself trim by boxing – he was the Army’s champion and held a record for knockouts.
Family Life and Personality
As a father, Buster was fun.
“But strict. He used to give me great parties. We’d have loads of kids round and play games and he’d MC the whole thing and make sure everyone had a really good time.”
He continued the tradition, later entertaining his two grandsons, Stuart and Jonathan.
Charity Work and Local Legacy
After becoming famous he continued entertaining whoever crossed his path and gave up a lot of time to help charities. His cutting book shows him opening fetes in Dorset and supporting fundraising events for The Samaritans, Help the Aged and the RNLI.
“He did speeches at dinners and was always happy to appear at things if it would help.”
In recognition of this, Verwood Town Council named a road, Merryfield Close, after its most celebrated resident.
His Final Years
Then, while attending an award ceremony, Buster tripped on a cable and took a heavy blow to the head.
Karen has no evidence to prove it, but believes this accident may have led to the brain tumour that developed in 1999, and which led to his death one week after diagnosis.
His funeral took place at St Michael and All Angels Church in Verwood in June 1999.
Karen and her mother, Iris – who died two years later – decided to make it an open occasion.
“We decided anyone would be welcome, because he was like that and he would have appreciated the audience,” she smiles.
Nearly all the Only Fools cast attended. For once, they were not smiling.
Ken MacDonald, who played Mike the barman, summed it up:
“Buster was a lovely man, a true gentleman and this is a very sad day.”
A Lasting Tribute
But the sadness could not last forever.
When John Sullivan revived the series in 2001, it began with a scene from Uncle Albert’s on-screen funeral – which turned into a farce when Del and Rodney ended up at the wrong service.
Iris was delighted by the tribute.
“It’s a lovely thing for them to do.”
“Buster would have loved it.”
A Personal Note
I was also fortunate enough to be given Buster’s original painting equipment, including his palette, brushes and even his paint tubes.
Seeing them today, still covered in layers of paint, gives a real insight into the man behind the character.
Perry Aghajanoff
