What an Incredible Month of Jolly Boys’ Fun!
In May 1989, the Only Fools and Horses cast and crew, led by production manager Adrian Pegg, descended on Margate to film what many consider the greatest episode of the series: that year’s feature-length, decade-defining Christmas special, The Jolly Boys’ Outing.
Thirty-seven years later, in May 2026, Adrian returned to Margate for four unforgettable beanos, recreating the magic of the original production with coachloads of ecstatic fans. Along the way, we uncovered the secrets behind the making of the episode and visited its filming locations in story order.
It has been one of the greatest delights of my life to play a part in making it all happen. From the incredible quality of the goody bags to the bunting decorating the coach, Adrian has been a stickler for authenticity, ensuring the experience felt genuine while remaining excellent value for everyone who joined us.
From the outset, our aim was simple: to have fun recreating memorable moments from the episode, while also educating fans about how the production team achieved something so remarkable in an era long before digital technology made filming easier.
There have been moments when I’ve cried with laughter. Sitting on a genuine Jolly Boys coach as 40 fellow fans belt out Help! while travelling to the Halfway House is something I’ll never forget. Walking down the aisle handing out snacks to the sound of 2-4-6-8 Motorway by the Tom Robinson Band created scenes that felt almost surreal.
Perhaps the highlight for me has been recreating some of the episode’s most iconic photographs. Seeing fans proudly holding the original Jolly Boys coach sign and reciting famous lines in perfect unison has been magical. I genuinely believe the world is a better place for having had 44 Only Fools fans standing in Dalby Square, looking towards where Villa Bella once stood, all declaring together: “We’re gonna get Mrs Cresswell out of her coffin!”
Being able to inhabit the same spaces once occupied by David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Buster Merryfield and so many others has been an incredible experience. At every stop on the tour, we’ve used large photo boards to help recreate famous scenes and photographs, bringing the episode vividly to life.
The reviews have blown us away. Guests have described the experience as “nostalgia done right” and, for some, one of their favourite memories since becoming fans of Only Fools and Horses itself.
The icing on the cake came last week when we welcomed a BBC film crew aboard to produce a news feature for BBC One — the very channel on which the episode originally aired. Reporter Leanne was amazed by the level of detail and the lengths we’d gone to in recreating the experience. It almost felt like a nod of approval from “Auntie” herself, and from the great Ray Butt and Gareth Gwenlan, whose work helped make the original series possible.
Of course, this tour is ultimately a love letter to the man responsible for it all: the incomparable John Sullivan. Throughout the journey, Adrian and I have made a point of highlighting just how brilliant John’s script was — not only for The Jolly Boys’ Outing, but for every episode that came before and after it. One of the few photographs of John on location was taken during the Halfway House scene, so at times it genuinely feels as though we’re walking in his footsteps.
With our first batch of tours now complete, just four dates remain — and one of those is already sold out.
This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Adrian has made it clear that these tours will not be repeated, so if you’ve ever wanted to step into the world of The Jolly Boys’ Outing, now is the time.
Avoid disappointment and book your place today!
Mike Jones
