Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Young Del Boy and baby Rodney are back as Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One orders up two new portions of nostalgic comedy drama Rock & Chips from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Comedy and Shazam Productions it was announced today.

Written by Only Fools And Horses creator John Sullivan, the opening bittersweet, feature-length comedy drama Rock & Chips was screened on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One in January this year shedding fresh light on the early lives of Peckham's most famous family. Transmitted on Sunday night, the drama was watched by 7.5m viewers.

Now, two new 60-minute specials of the comedy drama are on order with Nicholas Lyndhurst (Freddie), Kellie Bright (Joan) and James Buckley (Del) reprising their original roles with a host of familiar faces joining them including Mel Smith as DI Thomas, Paula Wilcox as Joan's mother-in-law Violet and Kacey Ainsworth and Samantha Spiro as mothers of Del's various conquests. The first episode will transmit at Christmas 2010 as a holiday treat for fans. The second will transmit in 2011.

The new episodes pick up the Trotter story following the birth of baby Rodney in 1960 and follow the fortunes of the family as Del progresses to manhood in Sixties London, alongside faithful muckers, Boycie (Stephen Lloyd), Trigger (Lewis Osborne), Denzil (Ashley Gerlach) and Jumbo Mills (Lee Long).

In Five Gold Rings, Christmas is coming and money is tight in the Trotter household. Reg (Shaun Dingwall) and Ted (Phil Daniels) are still their usual workshy selves. It's only Del who is bringing in any cash, from his market stall dealings in American imported records. So Joan is facing up to going back to work. Raynor (Robert Dawes) has offered her her old job back at the Ritz cinema. But who will look after baby Rodney? Fortunately Joan can rely on her mother-in-law, Violet, much to Ted's horror. Meanwhile, Del is busy getting himself a fiancee or two and Freddie is trying to avoid jail as his old nemesis DI Thomas is determined to nail him for the Margate jewellery robbery.

In the following episode – The Frog And The Pussycat – Joan longs for a new life. Reg has found her a job as a charlady but it's not entirely suitable as her employer has a very different idea about her responsibilities. Del also has new aspirations – to become a movie producer. If only he could find the finance. Maybe his latest squeeze might persuade her father to invest... that would provide the answer to both of their problems!

John Sullivan says: "We are thrilled that Del's winkle-pickers and bomber jacket are going to get another couple of outings on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One.

"The first episode was a great popular success for the channel and there's plenty more twists and turns in the Trotter family history for us to explore before we're finished!"

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ executive producer will again be Head of Comedy, Mark Freeland, who says: "Working with a cast of this calibre, a writer of such legendary status and a subject that is so beloved, is nothing but a pleasure and a privilege."

Written by John Sullivan, produced by Gareth Gwenlan and directed by Dewi Humphreys the comedy dramas are now shooting on location.

FW