RIP John Sullivan

Basq

Very sad!

One of the finest comedy writers in his prime..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mf58Yndjsw

Only Fools and Horses creator John Sullivan has died, it has been confirmed.

The BBC reports that Sullivan, who was 64, had suffered a short illness.

Speaking of the news, BBC director general Mark Thompson said: "John had a unique gift for turning everyday life and characters we all know into unforgettable comedy.

"His work will live on for years to come. We will miss him and we send our condolences to his family."

Gareth Gwenlan, producer of Only Fools and Horses and a close friend, said: "The sudden death of John Sullivan has deprived the world of television comedy of its greatest exponent.

"John was a writer of immense talent and he leaves behind him an extraordinary body of work which has entertained tens of millions of viewers and will continue to do so for many decades to come.

"I have had the privilege of working with John for over 30 years as a colleague and close friend. He was a writer at the peak of his creative powers with so much more to give."

Mark Freeland, BBC head of comedy, added that he was "the Dickens of our generation. Simply the best, most natural, most heartfelt comedy writer of our time."

Sullivan, who was awarded the OBE in 2005 for services to drama, was married with three children and two grandchildren.

He also wrote Citizen Smith, and his most recent work Rock & Chips is due to air on BBC One on Thursday.

DigitalSpy

amacachi

RIP, OFAH is still one of the best comedies about.

Tipsy McSwagger

RIP to a genius.

efb

RIP

Mr E

Very sad news, he was a very talented guy. RIP.

ForceOfNature

The greatest comedy writer of all time

STIG83

RIP to a great writer, he thought up some great writing for Only Fools and Horses

deadmau

RIP John and thank you for making us all laugh...

rednik

RIP. Thanks for many many great memories.

JP Liz V1

RIP

colinod0806

the fact that i watch OFAH for the umpteenth time and still find it as funny is probably the greatest compliment i can give to the man....rip

Very sad. A legend and a genius! RIP

jmayo

RIP.

He could combine genuine humour and sadness in the one scene unlike anyone else.

AFAIK I recall him saying he used to run some of his ideas past his Cork dad, including the chandelier scene.

As his most famous character always said
"He who dares, wins."

Well he did and in the process made a lot of us laugh.

flutegirl

Was sad to read this news today, RIP.

Lollers

Remember him talking about the chandelier scene

His dad was recounting a true story about how this had happened with a few of the people he was working with years ago. John though it was hilarious but his dad was horrified saying, son people lost their jobs over this.

A few years later after he worked the scene into A Touch of Class, he got a call from his dad. ''You're right son it was funny''.

RIP John thanks for the memories

fontanalis

Lollers wrote: »

Remember him talking about the chandelier scene

His dad was recounting a true story about how this had happened with a few of the people he was working with years ago. John though it was hilarious but his dad was horrified saying, son people lost their jobs over this.

A few years later after he worked the scene into A Touch of Class, he got a call from his dad. ''You're right son it was funny''.

RIP John thanks for the memories

I remember the interview; I think he wrote the episode without telling his father and after each episode his father would always call him, he said he was waiting nervously for his fathers call after the episode.
Awful news.

ct89

RIP, Back in the day when comedy was comedy, for that we thank you

The Sparrow

Very sad to hear about this. For many years he was a ,master of comedy and OFAH was one of the greatest comedies ever made.

I noticed that there was no mention of this passing on RTE News this evening. Shame because OFAH is genuinely loved by so many people and the RTE News covers the most obscure arts related deaths all the time. And a good chunk of their schedule over the years has been filled by OFAH.

Anyway, RIP John Sullivan. Comedy Genuis.

Mental Mickey

The Sparrow wrote: »

Very sad to hear about this. For many years he was a ,master of comedy and OFAH was one of the greatest comedies ever made.

I noticed that there was no mention of this passing on RTE News this evening. Shame because OFAH is genuinely loved by so many people and the RTE News covers the most obscure arts related deaths all the time. And a good chunk of their schedule over the years has been filled by OFAH.

Anyway, RIP John Sullivan. Comedy Genuis.

He wasn't Irish or particularly well known.

Decoda

RIP John. You gave me years of enjoyment with OFAH.

DC

eigrod

The Sparrow wrote: »

Very sad to hear about this. For many years he was a ,master of comedy and OFAH was one of the greatest comedies ever made.

I noticed that there was no mention of this passing on RTE News this evening. Shame because OFAH is genuinely loved by so many people and the RTE News covers the most obscure arts related deaths all the time. And a good chunk of their schedule over the years has been filled by OFAH.

Anyway, RIP John Sullivan. Comedy Genuis.

It was mentioned on RTE 1 radio news at 10pm there.

RIP.

STIG83

He wrote some great lines for OFAH, especially for Trigger!!

Mental Mickey

STIG83 wrote: »

He wrote some great lines for OFAH, especially for Trigger!!

All the characters were pure genius..............Boycie was class.

gernon

a sad day RIP to a comedy superstar

coupland

Thank you John Sullivan for Fools and Horses, Dear John and Just Good Friends

My fav clip from Dear John (about a support group for divorced people)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Doukbx4b3RE

jimmyw

The Sparrow wrote: »

Very sad to hear about this. For many years he was a ,master of comedy and OFAH was one of the greatest comedies ever made.

I noticed that there was no mention of this passing on RTE News this evening. Shame because OFAH is genuinely loved by so many people and the RTE News covers the most obscure arts related deaths all the time. And a good chunk of their schedule over the years has been filled by OFAH.

Anyway, RIP John Sullivan. Comedy Genuis.

What would you expect from this lot:rolleyes:
Fantastic writer, only fools was/still is great and is still funny.RIP John and thanks.

sdanseo

RIP; I was addicted to OFAH for a good while. Epic show.

jimmyw

Only fools is on now on "gold"

The Sparrow

Mental Mickey wrote: »

He wasn't Irish or particularly well known.

That's never stopped them before. They are always doing little obituaries for writers or artists that are quite obscure.

His television programme was immensely popular here and even though it was originally from the UK, it was repeated countless times on RTE.

Pacing Mule

Just posted this in AH but deserves a second go ...

Years in the making ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FYUyz3F7rU

One classic gag.

RIP

The Sparrow

jimmyw wrote: »

Only fools is on now on "gold"

Shame it is one of the most recent ones that weren't so great. I hope BBC do a good tribute programme.

The Sparrow

As we're posting clips... this is hilarious:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkWmaGlVDfA

STIG83

The Sparrow wrote: »

As we're posting clips... this is hilarious:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkWmaGlVDfA

This is classic!! never see anything like it anymore!!

Mental Mickey

STIG83 wrote: »

This is classic!! never see anything like it anymore!!

That whole episode is genius.

STIG83

Mental Mickey wrote: »

That whole episode is genius.

When they turned up at the Wake and talking to Trigger, he said he was in costume and came as a chauffer and they all wearing suits except Rodney and Del Boy and "felt a bit stupid!!"
When Trigger was on about Ghandi: "he did one great film and we never saw him again"

Mental Mickey

STIG83 wrote: »

When they turned up at the Wake and talking to Trigger, he said hewas in costume and came as a chauffer, and felt a bit stupid!!
When Trigger was on about Ghandi: "he did one great film and we never saw him again"

Magic.

celtictiger32

still one of the best comedies around never gets old.

heard somewhere a while back he was supposed to be writing something with the fella that wrote father ted dont know if it ever materialised but id say it would have been good.

anyway r.i.p

STIG83

Mental Mickey wrote: »

Magic.

I have them 3 episodes in a DVD boxset i might stick them on. Never gets old!!

Mental Mickey

Was watchin an episode earlier where they were at a karaoke in the Nags Head. The main act was a carpenter/David Bowie impersonater called "Ziggy Sawdust"! :D

STIG83

There will be an episode of Rock and Chips next week on BBC, Jay from The Inbetweeners plays a young Del Boy, and is brilliant in the role.

Mental Mickey

STIG83 wrote: »

There will be an episode of Rock and Chips next week on BBC, Jay from The Inbetweeners plays a young Del Boy, and is brilliant in the role.

Have to say I couldn't get into that show. Preferred OFAH as it was and the fact that we got to know about their past kinda ruined it for me.

STIG83

Mental Mickey wrote: »

Have to say I couldn't get into that show. Preferred OFAH as it was and the fact that we got to know about their past kinda ruined it for me.

Maybe not everyones cup of tea, i think they should have ended OFAH when they became millionaires, thought the Xmas specials they showed were only ok, only one out of them i really enjoyed was "Strangers On The Shore"
GARY!!

jetsonx

One of the greatest TV script writers that ever lived. The man was a creative genius whose work entertained the masses for nearly three decades. OFAH was relevant, comic and tragic without ever being boring.

TV comedy has lost one of it's greatest writers.

RIP John O'Sullivan.

The Sparrow

One of my favourite scenes is when they are on a trawler travelling to Amsterdam to smuggle some diamonds in To Hull and back and Rodney is green with seasickness. He is getting sick and Del puffs his chest out and talks about how the sea air makes you proud to be British. He talks about Nelson and Waterloo and how the English have sea water coursing through their veins. Del then grabs the flagpole, puffs his chect out and proclaims how proud he is to be British and starts singing:

'Robin Hood, Robin Hood riding through the Glen...."

Maybe not the most famous scene, but it always cracks me up.

There was also the episode where Del starts to bottle and sell tap water as 'Peckham Spring'. Which was all well and good until it emerged that Coca Cola had been caught doing exactly the same with Dasani in the UK!!:p

Lollers

When Rodney is going out with an older lady.

Del: 40 you're not been serious are ya.

Rodney: whats wrong with going out with a woman of 40.

Del: nothing, nothing at all if you happen to be 50, blimey she's even to old for me.

Grandad: well I'd have to think twice.

purplepanda

Mental Mickey wrote: »

He wasn't Irish or particularly well known.

A new board comedian is born :rolleyes:

fontanalis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK_cBPk8M1Q

amacachi

fontanalis wrote: »

oK_cBPk8M1Q

That bit, with the build-up, was one of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life. So good.

Oat23

Just read about this. Very talented man and he made millions laugh for many years.

RIP

Skid

RIP John Sullivan.

Only Fools and Horses is, quite rightly, remembered as a classic - but he wrote some other brilliant shows including 'Dear John'.

Dilsheen

Th greatest program of all time and this is not just being said because john passed away R.I.P, there was never a better written show in my opinion and he will always be remembered by all the fans

Not goodbye John , just Bonjour