"Three Men, A Woman & A Baby"

3rd February 1991

It's "the one with the wigs" which I always misremembered as being "Rodney Come Home" (so that episode doesn't even have wigs to liven it up). But the Crowning Glory wigs (bought for 25% of the sale price) being for men turns out to be a tail that's a load of old pony...

This episode begins the running 'Satanic' gag with regards Baby Trotter and we hear the "Omen" music in the series for the first time. Rodney actually ends up inadvertently naming Del's first child - Damian Derek Trotter (DDT!). Until then, the baby was going to be called Rodney (if a boy) or Sigourney (if a girl) after Sigourney Weaver. It's a surprise 'Joan' isn't mentioned as a name (that would have to wait for Rodney and Cassandra's first child).

Rodney is now a vegetarian and was regularly bitten by dogs as a child. Trigger has a cousin called Cyril.

Mickey Pearce has got the sack from the "World of Leather" (if this is recent, is his partnership with Jevon over? Sullivan doesn't care - the continuity is there purely for the gag about vegetarianism). Steven from the Bank (Daniel Hill's character) is mentioned but not seen - he no longer works with Cassie, having been promoted. Cassandra listens to "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor when in the flat (a clever bit of production as the bittersweet nature of the song really sets the mood for the encounter between her and Rodney).

This is the only episode of "Only Fools" to mention Anita Dobson.

Mustapha from the Bangladeshi Butchers is mentioned!

Raquel's disgusting floral maternity dress. Gwyneth Strong in black skirt and navy tights!

The fact that the wigs are for men rather than women is played as a huge problem... but is it really that much of a disaster?

The "haven't had a bit for months" scene is embarrassing.

Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra) is atrocious when required to act scared of a mouse.

"I've a horrible feeling that if there is such a thing as reincarnation, knowing my luck I'll come back as me!"

"And if it's a boy, they're going to call it Rodney... after Dave"!

"Listen Gordon, are you still bald?"

Trigger's marvellous story about his cousin Cyril:

Trigger: "He drove out to Beachy Head. Parked about five foot from the edge of the cliff."
Albert: "What, he was gonna drive off it?"
Trigger: "Yeah! He just sat there for a couple of hours, his head resting on the steering wheel. People tried to talk him out of it, but he was too depressed to listen."
Del: "But then, and this is what I mean about people, Rodney, they had a whip- round and got him his 500 quid."
Rodney: "No! Who held the whip- round?"
Del: "All the passengers on his bus!"

"Troy Trotter!"

Everything from when they arrive at the hospital onwards is classic, from the screaming birth scenes to the first "Omen" moment and the shenanigans with the wig and the oxygen. Best of all is the closing scene, which elevates an average episode into one which everyone of a certain age now remembers:

"There you are, Mum. I know you can see us. There he is, look, your first grandchild. Oh, you are such a lovely little boy, you really are. You've got a mummy and daddy who think you're the most precious thing in the whole wide world. You've got a lovely family around you. Yes, you have, look. You've got your Uncle Rodney to play with. Your Great-Uncle Albert... he'll tell you about all the places in the world he's been to - and sunk! And there's me. And you're gonna have all the things your daddy couldn't afford. 'Cos I've been a bit of a dreamer, you know. Yeah, I have. You know I wanted to do things, be someone, but I never had what it took. But you're different, you're gonna do all the things I always wanted to do and you're gonna come back and tell me about them. Tell me if they're as good as I thought they would be. You're gonna have such fun. You are, and when you get the hump... 'cos you're bound to get the hump sometimes... I'll muck about and make you laugh. 'Cos I've mucked about all my life, and I never knew the reason why until now. This is what it's all about. I was born for this moment. Yes. Oh we're gonna have such fun, we are, you mark my words. This time next year we'll be millionaires."

It's a beautiful moment.

An average episode with a lot of time spent in the flat is enlivened by the last twenty minutes, which feature the birth of Baby Trotter and is superb. Who didn't cry at the time, and even now? Full marks to all concerned.

Classic Lyndhurst
A MOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rodney fearlessly battles the clip-on ponytail...
...and gets an unexpected reward
Don't panic Mister Mainwaring
It's coming... it's coming...
It's a baby!
Classic Lyndhurst
Your first grandchild, mum