"Who Wants To Be A Millionaire"

5th October 1986

Jumbo Mills is back in town from Australia with the offer of a lifetime for Del – but it comes at a cost…

Jumbo was Del’s partner in the sixties (they had a fish stall outside "the pub" [The Nags Head?]) but he emigrated to Australia in 1967. Boycie was around at this point as he "remembers". Del gave Jumbo his last two hundred pounds, enabling him to make his fortune. He has now returned to pay back the debt.

Rodney was "five" when Joannie died, and "all snot and marmite" with "a funny haircut" when Jumbo left. This fits in exactly with "Thicker Than Water" [he’d have been eight].

Harry Dando is an old man who works on the market on a fruit and veg stall. Albert was in Australia in 1929 and has spent ¾ of his life sailing round the world. Rodney is refused an immigration visa because of his "conviction for the illegal use of drugs" (an incident mentioned in many, many previous episodes).

The actor playing Jumbo (Nick Stringer) also played an Australian in "Go West Young Man", the second ever episode. But as he didn’t know Del in that episode, it can’t be the same person. So why do they look and sound identical? A major goof. And if Jumbo is so successful he has a chain of restaurants, would he really choose to import cars for his new business from Boycie, a small second hand dealer in Peckham?!

Del mentions the ‘J Edgar’, of course meaning the Hoover.

Eastenders ("Produced by Julia Smith") plays in the Nags Head. It had started on 19th February 1985, about 18 months prior to this episode being broadcast.

"Here I am am trying to clinch a business deal and you go and nick my Client’s wig"

"I want us to re-form our old partnership!"

"What, get another fish stall?"

"Australia? I dunno about that."

"They’d love you over there Del! They’ve got no class!"

"He has got two GCE’s"

"Doesn’t matter, we’ll find something for him to do!"

And one of my favourite gags of the whole series. Jumbo says:

"You think I’m bald? Well I’m not!" to which Albert replies:

"Well that’s one hell of a parting you’ve got there son!"

And many more.

Del orders a Banana Dacari in the Nags Head. Even this is funny, as Mike plonks a whole banana in there. Later he orders a bottle of "Dilingers ’75!"

The scene in the flat is heart wrenching as Rodney throws his entire upbringing back at Del when he finds out his brother is planning to leave him behind to go to Australia:

Rodney: I was a little five-year-old stood in a damp graveyard wondering what the hole in the ground was for. I remember other people saying ‘I wonder what’s going to happen to poor little Rodney?’. But I had no need to fear did I? Cos suddenly a vision appeared from beyond the silhouette of the gasworks! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Del Boy! Da da da daaa! Just think Del, so far I’m your only success! That says a lot for the two of us, don’t it?

Del: Look Rodney… Rodders, listen, I’m going to make a fortune over there. I’ll send you money and that.

Rodney: You know what you can do with your money Del.

Del: This is my big chance Rodney.

Rodney: Fine, well I’ll see you around! (in tears) Sport…

"Sorry mate."

This is by turns hilarious and heartbreaking. The first half is flawlessly executed comedy, and the whole sequence with Jumbo’s wig is brilliantly played by David Jason and, in fact, by Nick Stringer. The second half features some of the most intense drama since "Strained Relations". In scenes reminiscent of that episode, Del and Rodney both angrily reflect on their conflicting lives since they were left alone – Del claiming to have done his best, Rodney lashing out at a parental upbringing he clearly feels he was robbed of. In the end, the choice for Del is between the best chance yet to make that elusive fortune, and not leaving Rodney. Rodney is a product of Del – as he points out, Rodney’s every chance at being a success has been quashed by his brother, and now Del must pay the price as he can’t leave him to cope alone. Finally they both kid themselves that the best opportunities are at home – when they know the best chance of escaping a life they hate has just escaped them by a whisker. Superb.