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Episodes

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	\| ShortSummary =Set in 1960, Joan Trotter is in an unhappy marriage with the work-shy Reg, with whom she has a teenage son, Derek ("Del Boy"). However, the reappearance in Peckham of bank robber, "art connoisseur" and womaniser Freddie Robdal, recently released after a ten-year prison sentence, will bring about changes in Joan's life. ''Rock & Chips'' centres on the relationships between the glamorous Joan Trotter, Del's useless father Reg, the safe-cracker Freddie Robdal and the young [[Del Boy]]. It also features teenage incarnations of some of the original show's regular characters, including [[Boycie]], [[Trigger (Only Fools and Horses)\|Trigger]], [[Denzil Tulser\|Denzil]], and Jumbo Mills. The Trotter family have not yet moved into their flat in [[Walter Raleigh]] House (later [[Nelson Mandela]] House), but there are some recognisable settings such as the mean streets of Peckham and the Nag's Head circa 1960.~~<ref>[http://www.inthenews.co.uk/entertainment/tv/del-boy-back-in-only-fools-and-horses-prequel-$1308917 ]{{dead link\|date=June 2017 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>~~		\| ShortSummary =Set in 1960, Joan Trotter is in an unhappy marriage with the work-shy Reg, with whom she has a teenage son, Derek ("Del Boy"). However, the reappearance in Peckham of bank robber, "art connoisseur" and womaniser Freddie Robdal, recently released after a ten-year prison sentence, will bring about changes in Joan's life. ''Rock & Chips'' centres on the relationships between the glamorous Joan Trotter, Del's useless father Reg, the safe-cracker Freddie Robdal and the young [[Del Boy]]. It also features teenage incarnations of some of the original show's regular characters, including [[Boycie]], [[Trigger (Only Fools and Horses)\|Trigger]], [[Denzil Tulser\|Denzil]], and Jumbo Mills. The Trotter family have not yet moved into their flat in [[Walter Raleigh]] House (later [[Nelson Mandela]] House), but there are some recognisable settings such as the mean streets of Peckham and the Nag's Head circa 1960.
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{{short description|British television miniseries}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Rock&chips.jpg
| caption =
| genre = [[Comedy drama]]
| runtime = {{plainlist|
* 90 minutes (pilot)
* 60 minutes (specials)
}}
| creator = [[John Sullivan (writer)|John Sullivan]]
| writer = John Sullivan
| director = Dewi Humphreys
| producer = [[Gareth Gwenlan]]
| executive_producer = {{plainlist|
* John Sullivan
* Mark Freeland
}}
| location = [[Peckham]], [[London]], England
| starring = {{plainlist|
* [[Nicholas Lyndhurst]]
* [[James Buckley (actor)|James Buckley]]
* [[Kellie Bright]]
* [[Shaun Dingwall]]
* [[Phil Daniels]]
* [[Paula Wilcox]]
* [[Paul Putner]]
* [[Katie Griffiths]]
* [[Alison Pargeter]]
* [[Mel Smith]]
}}
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| network = [[BBC One]]
| picture_format = HDTV 1080i
| company = {{plainlist|
* [[BBC]]
* Shazam Productions
}}
| distributor = [[Lionsgate]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Rock & Chips (2010)|website=[[BBFC]]|access-date=26 November 2021|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/rock-chips-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0znja1mjq}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Rock & Chips (2011)|website=[[BBFC]]|access-date=26 November 2021|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/rock-chips-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0znje4mtu}}</ref>
| first_aired = {{start date|2010|1|24|df=yes}}
| last_aired = {{end date|2011|4|28|df=y}}
| num_episodes = 3
| list_episodes = #Episodes
| preceded_by = {{plainlist|
* [[Only Fools and Horses]] (1981–2003)
* [[The Green Green Grass]] (2005–2009)
}}
}}
'''''Rock & Chips''''' is a [[Television in the United Kingdom|British television]] [[comedy-drama]] miniseries and a [[prequel]] to the [[sitcom]] ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''. The show is set in [[Peckham]], southeast London, during the early 1960s, focusing primarily on the lives of [[Del Boy|Del Trotter]], Freddie Robdal and Joan and Reg Trotter. [[Nicholas Lyndhurst]], who played Rodney in ''Only Fools and Horses'', plays Robdal alongside [[James Buckley (actor)|James Buckley]] (Del Boy), [[Kellie Bright]] (Joan), [[Shaun Dingwall]] (Reg) and [[Phil Daniels]] (Grandad). The Shazam Productions and [[BBC]] co-production was written by ''Only Fools and Horses'' creator [[John Sullivan (writer)|John Sullivan]], directed by Dewi Humphreys and produced by [[Gareth Gwenlan]].

The 90-minute pilot was conceived in 1996 and commissioned in 2003, with the premise established in the final episode of ''Only Fools and Horses'' in 2003. It was shelved and ''Only Fools and Horses'' spin-off ''[[The Green Green Grass]]'' was developed; its success led to the prequel being recommissioned in July 2009. Filming began in October in London and the production was first broadcast on [[BBC One]] and [[BBC HD]] on 24 January 2010. It was the second most watched programme of the day but gained mixed reviews from critics.

==Plot==
The story starts in February 1960, by setting up the characters. [[List of Only Fools and Horses characters#Joan Trotter|Joan Trotter]] ([[Kellie Bright]]) is in an unhappy marriage with the lazy [[List of Only Fools and Horses characters#Reg Trotter|Reg]] ([[Shaun Dingwall]]), whose father [[Grandad (Only Fools and Horses)|Ted]] ([[Phil Daniels]]) has just moved in. Her 15-year-old son [[Del Boy|Derek]], often shortened to Del Boy, ([[James Buckley (actor)|James Buckley]]) and his friends [[Boycie]], [[Trigger (Only Fools and Horses)|Trigger]], [[List of Only Fools and Horses characters#Jumbo Mills|Jumbo Mills]], [[Denzil (Only Fools and Horses)|Denzil]] (Stephen Lloyd, [[Lewis Osborne]], Lee Long and Ashley Gerlach) are still in school, following an increase in the [[school-leaving age]]. Joan works at the local cinema with Trigger's aunt [[List of Only Fools and Horses characters#Reenie Turpin|Reenie Turpin]] (Emma Cooke) and Raymond (Billy Seymour) for cinema manager Ernie Rayner ([[Robert Daws]]), and at the Town Hall as "a part-time filing clerk who sometimes makes the tea". Convicted thief [[List of Only Fools and Horses characters#Freddie Robdal|Freddie Robdal]] ([[Nicholas Lyndhurst]]) has just been released from [[Dartmoor (HM Prison)|Dartmoor Prison]] and returned to Peckham with explosives expert Gerald "Jelly" Kelly ([[Paul Putner]]).

At the Town Hall, Joan asks Mr Johnson ([[Colin Prockter]]) about applying for a flat in the new [[high-rise]] estate; she is told she is unlikely to get a tenancy, as preference will be given to those with young children. At the ''Nag's Head'', Freddie and Reg meet, and Reg invites him to his house to continue drinking. After meeting Joan and buying her a drink, Freddie realises that she is a Trotter, a family he has a dislike for. After they return to the Trotters' house, Freddie shows his affection for Joan.

At the cinema, Joan is promoted to part-time assistant manager and Rayner tells her that the safe sometimes contains over £2,000 at weekends. She later tells Freddie, after he goes round to her house to offer Reg some work (Reg was not at home as Freddie told him to meet him at the pub). They talk about art, and he invites her (and Reg) to his house-warming party.

In March, Joan has a [[Marilyn Monroe]] hairstyle and the safe at the cinema is broken into. Ahead of the party, Freddie gives Reg the use of his car, to return unused decorating materials to [[Guildford]] and he takes his father, Reenie and her boyfriend Clayton Cooper ([[Roger Griffiths]]) with him. They run out of petrol on the way, leaving Freddie and Joan the only ones at the party. They dance, and Freddie admits that he wanted to be alone with Joan so they could talk about art. They end the night by sleeping together.

In June, Reenie accompanies Joan to a pregnancy testing clinic, while the boys are on the Jolly Boys Outing to [[Margate]] (providing Freddie and Jelly the opportunity to burgle a jewellers). On their journey home, Reenie tells Joan about Freddie's time in prison and she realises he burgled the cinema. After Freddie tells Kelly he thinks he's in love with Joan, Reg announces her pregnancy in the pub. While Joan is completing a housing request form, Freddie goes to see her and she fails to acknowledge the baby is his.

The Trotters' housing application is successful in August, and September sees them view a flat in the new [[Walter Raleigh|Sir Walter Raleigh]] House, which they have moved into in October. In November, Joan has her baby, which she calls [[Rodney Trotter|Rodney]] (after the "handsome actor" [[Rod Taylor]], and to the surprise of everyone else). The closing scene sees Joan enter the balcony of her flat with Rodney in her arms. After telling him that Del will be very rich one day, Joan sees Freddie on a balcony in a tower opposite; she shows him Rodney and nods her head, to his delight.

Throughout, the story tells of Del's strained relationship with his father and his affection for his mother; Reg's [[affair]] with the barmaid at the Nag's Head; Del and Jumbo selling goods from the docks out of the back of a van; Del and Boycie's attempt at dating Pam and Glenda (Jodie Mooney and Katie Griffiths); Joan fending off advances from her perverted boss and provides an introduction to [[List of Only Fools and Horses characters#Roy Slater|Roy Slater]] (Calum MacNab) and [[List of Only Fools and Horses characters#Albie Littlewood|Albie Littlewood]] (Jonathan Readwin).

==Cast==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Actor !! Character !! Duration !! Episodes
|-
| [[James Buckley (actor)|James Buckley]] || [[Del Boy]] || 2010–2011|| 3
|-
| [[Nicholas Lyndhurst]] || [[List of Only Fools and Horses characters#Freddie Robdal|Freddie "the Frog" Robdal]] || 2010–2011 || 3
|-
| [[Phil Daniels]] || [[Grandad (Only Fools and Horses)|Ted Trotter]] || 2010–2011 || 3
|-
| [[Kellie Bright]] || [[List of Only Fools and Horses characters#Joan Trotter|Joan Trotter]] || 2010–2011 || 3
|-
| [[Shaun Dingwall]] || [[List of Only Fools and Horses characters#Reg Trotter|Reg Trotter]] || 2010–2011 || 3
|-
| Emma Cooke || [[List of Only Fools and Horses characters#Reenie Turpin|Reenie Turpin]] || 2010–2011|| 3
|-
| [[Paul Putner]] || Gerald 'Jelly' Kelly || 2010–2011|| 3
|-
| [[Lewis Osborne]] || [[Trigger (Only Fools and Horses)|Trigger]] || 2010–2011 || 3
|-
| Stephen Lloyd || [[Boycie]] || 2010–2011|| 3
|-
| Ashley Gerlach || [[Denzil (Only Fools and Horses)|Denzil]] || 2010–2011 || 3
|-
| Lee Long|| [[List of Only Fools and Horses characters#Jumbo Mills|Jumbo Mills]] || 2010–2011 || 3
|-
| Calum MacNab || [[Roy Slater]] || 2010–2011 || 2
|-
| [[Alison Pargeter]] || Val || 2010–2011|| 3
|-
| [[Mel Smith]] || DI Thomas || 2010–2011 || 2
|-
| [[Paula Wilcox]] || [[List of Only Fools and Horses characters#Violet Trotter|Violet Trotter]] || 2010–2011 || 2
|-
|[[Robert Daws]]
|Ernie Rayner
|2010–2011
|3
|-
|Billy Seymour
|Raymond
|2010–2011
|3
|-
| [[Chandeep Uppal]] || Amita || 2010|| 1
|-
| Joan Hodges || Gwen || 2010–2011 || 2
|-
| [[Kacey Ainsworth]] || Edna || 2010|| 1
|-
| [[Katie Griffiths]] || Glenda || 2010|| 2
|-
|}

==Production==
Writer [[John Sullivan (writer)|John Sullivan]] had the idea for a prequel to the sitcom ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' in 1996;<ref name="Inde1299676">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/lovely-jubbly-del-boys-back-ndash-as-a-teenager-1299676.html |title=Lovely jubbly! Del Boy's back – as a teenager|first=Andrew|last=Johnson|work=[[The Independent]]|date=11 January 2009|access-date=23 March 2009}}</ref> its commission was announced in 2003<ref name="Inde1299676" /> and the premise for the series was established in the final ''Only Fools and Horses'' episode "[[Sleepless in Peckham]]" in 2003, where Rodney discovers a photograph of Freddie Robdal from 1960. His uncanny resemblance to Rodney confirmed that he, and not Reg, was Rodney's biological father. A lot of the groundwork for this had been both laid and explored in the Episode "The Frog's Legacy" the 1987 Christmas Day hour-long special. In the episode Rodney goes to ask about his father to which Albert diplomatically replies 'They're rumours Rodney. That's all. Rumours.' The proposed prequel, was to be titled ''Once Upon a Time in Peckham'', it would see young versions of Del, Boycie, Denzil and Trigger, and Sullivan said "Joanie will be a key character, and during the film will give birth to Rodney."<ref name="Inde1299676" /> However, the prequel was shelved, and spin-off ''[[The Green Green Grass]]'' was developed to follow secondary characters, Boycie, Marlene and their son Tyler, as they escape the London Mafia and attempt to live in the [[Shropshire]] countryside. It was reported in January 2009 that the prequel was being considered again, following the success of ''The Green Green Grass''.<ref name="Inde1299676" />

On 3 July 2009, the BBC announced that the prequel had been commissioned as a 90-minute comedy drama, titled ''Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Chips'', to be co-produced by the BBC and Sullivan's production company, Shazam Productions.<ref name="BBCPO">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/07_july/03/chips.shtml|title=BBC One brings back the Trotters – but the year is 1960 in ''Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Chips''|publisher=BBC Press Office|date=3 July 2009|access-date=3 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Parker |first=Robin |url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/commissioning/trotters-to-return-in-only-fools-and-horses-prequel/5003174.article?referrer=RSS |title=Trotters to return in ''Only Fools and Horses'' prequel|publisher=Broadcastnow.co.uk |date=3 July 2009|access-date=3 July 2009}}</ref> Originally scheduled for August,<ref name="BBCPO" /> filming began in October 2009 in London,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/10_october/05/chips.shtml |title=Shooting starts on ''Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Chips''|publisher=BBC Press Office |date=5 October 2009|access-date=14 January 2010}}</ref> lasting 19 days.<ref name="Deacon">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/michaeldeacon/100022975/yet-another-bbc-star-complains-about-budget-cuts/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126045739/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/michaeldeacon/100022975/yet-another-bbc-star-complains-about-budget-cuts/|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2010|title=Yet another BBC star complains about budget cuts|last=Deacon|first=Michael|date=20 January 2010|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref> [[Nicholas Lyndhurst]], who played Rodney in ''Only Fools and Horses'', would play villain and art connoisseur Freddie Robdal in a reprise of his role in the "Sleepless in Peckham" photograph, [[Kellie Bright]] (''[[Bad Girls (TV series)|Bad Girls]]'', ''[[The Archers]]'') would play the "glamorous" Joan Trotter, her husband Reg would be portrayed by [[Shaun Dingwall]] (''[[Soldier Soldier]]'', ''[[Doctor Who]]''), and his father by [[Phil Daniels]] (''[[Quadrophenia (film)|Quadrophenia]]'', ''[[EastEnders]]''). [[James Buckley (actor)|James Buckley]] (''[[The Inbetweeners]]''), would play the teenage Derek, Joan and Reg's son, portrayed by [[David Jason]] in ''Only Fools and Horses''. Dewi Humphreys (''[[The Green Green Grass]]'') would direct. It was announced in January 2010 that the production would be shown on 24 January on [[BBC One]] with the title ''Rock & Chips''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/01_january/15/rock.shtml|title=''Rock & Chips'': introduction|date=15 January 2010|publisher=BBC Press Office|access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref>

The drama was produced by [[Gareth Gwenlan]], who worked on ''Only Fools and Horses'' between 1988 and 2003. Speaking to the ''[[Western Mail (Wales)|Western Mail]]'', he described it as "essentially a love story" between Joan and Freddie, and he said that Lyndhurst "told me he thinks it's the best thing he's ever done". Speaking about the casting of Lyndhurst, he said he "would make a marvellous villain, which is something people will never have seen him do on TV before".<ref name="WesternMail">{{cite news|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/showbiz/2010/01/23/new-york-paris-peckham-brecon-91466-25653843/|title=New York, Paris, Peckham, Brecon... ''Rock & Chips''|last=Rees|first=Claire|date=23 January 2010|work=[[Western Mail (Wales)|Western Mail]]|access-date=1 February 2010}}</ref>

Speaking about continuing the story, Gwenlan said that the production was "run on the idea it'll be turned into a series. This one lays the groundwork and John [Sullivan] has enough for about two more series."<ref name="WesternMail" />

On 13 September 2010, while promoting the third series of ''[[The Inbetweeners]]'' on [[BBC Radio 5 Live]], James Buckley confirmed that ''Rock & Chips'' would return for two more specials, one for Christmas 2010, and the other for Easter 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a279052/bbc-orders-two-rock-chips-specials/|title=BBC orders two 'Rock & Chips' specials|first=Christian|last=Tobin|date=28 September 2010|website=Digital Spy}}</ref> John Sullivan died on 23 April 2011, five days before the final episode was broadcast.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13176198 |title=Comedy writer John Sullivan OBE dies |work=BBC News |date=23 April 2011}}</ref>

===Locations===
The 'Nags Head' pub used in the pilot episode is a de-furbished version of the existing 'Pelton Arms' pub in Greenwich, which maintains the 'Only Fools And Horses' look, style and 'feel'. The prefabricated [[Excalibur Estate]] in [[Catford]] was used as a location in the opening episode.

===John Sullivan's comments===
Sullivan said when the production was announced that it would "give us a bit of an insight into why Del and Rodney turned out the way they did" in a period "before [[The Beatles]] and [[Mary Quant]] made London the coolest place on the planet" when "the staple diet was [[rock salmon]] and chips and the flicks offer the only hint of glamour".<ref name="BBCPO" /> Expanding further on the basis for the prequel, he said:
<blockquote>... the most important person in the flat [in ''Only Fools and Horses''] was never, ever seen; it was the spirit of Del's (and Rodney's) beloved mother Joan who had passed away 17 years before, and throughout the run of the series Del constantly referred to her and past events within the Trotter Family. ... But much of his historical information was at best contradictory, and {{sic|at worse}} outright lies. We were left with a situation where the only person who really knew what had happened was an unreliable witness, so I decided to return to those misty days of 1960 to meet all those characters we'd only ever heard about ...<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/comedy/2010/01/john-sullivan-on-rock-chips.shtml|title=John Sullivan on ''Rock & Chips''|last=Sullivan|first=John|date=18 January 2010|work=BBC Comedy Blog|publisher=BBC|access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref></blockquote>

===Nicholas Lyndhurst's comments===
In an interview in the press pack for the production, Lyndhurst described Freddie Robdal as "a villain – charming, but nasty", and comparing him to Rodney, said that: "They're from two entirely different suitcases as far as I'm concerned. I didn't want to bring into it anything that I'd already done with Rodney and fortunately there wasn't any opportunity to do so. They're like chalk and cheese."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/01_january/15/rock2.shtml|title=''Rock & Chips'': Q&A with Nicholas Lyndhurst|date=15 January 2010|publisher=BBC Press Office|access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref> Speaking about the 19-day filming schedule and the "not great" budget, he also told Michael Deacon of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' that:

<blockquote>I was very pleased it was made at all. ... There were people who said, 'I don't think we're going to do this', and we had to wait months to get the green light. We thought, 'Well, we haven't got the budget we want, we haven't got the schedule we want, so we're going to have to make it as brilliant as we can.' It was a costume drama and it needed a costume drama budget, and it didn't get that.<ref name="Deacon" /></blockquote>

==Episodes==
{{Episode table |background=#bfe0bf |overall=5 |title=20 |director=18 |writer=18 |airdate=16 |country=UK |viewers=12 |viewersR=<ref name=ratings>{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500 |publisher=[[BARB]] |title=Weekly Viewing Summary (see relevant week) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329144324/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500 |archive-date=29 March 2007 }}</ref> |aux2=12 |aux2T=Running<br>time|episodes=

{{Episode list
| Title = Rock and Chips
| DirectedBy = Dewi Humphreys
| WrittenBy = John Sullivan
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2010|1|24|df=y}}
| Aux2 = 90 minutes
| Viewers = 8.42
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| ShortSummary =Set in 1960, Joan Trotter is in an unhappy marriage with the work-shy Reg, with whom she has a teenage son, Derek ("Del Boy"). However, the reappearance in Peckham of bank robber, "art connoisseur" and womaniser Freddie Robdal, recently released after a ten-year prison sentence, will bring about changes in Joan's life. ''Rock & Chips'' centres on the relationships between the glamorous Joan Trotter, Del's useless father Reg, the safe-cracker Freddie Robdal and the young [[Del Boy]]. It also features teenage incarnations of some of the original show's regular characters, including [[Boycie]], [[Trigger (Only Fools and Horses)|Trigger]], [[Denzil Tulser|Denzil]], and Jumbo Mills. The Trotter family have not yet moved into their flat in [[Walter Raleigh]] House (later [[Nelson Mandela]] House), but there are some recognisable settings such as the mean streets of Peckham and the Nag's Head circa 1960.<ref>[http://www.inthenews.co.uk/entertainment/tv/del-boy-back-in-only-fools-and-horses-prequel-$1308917 ]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| LineColor = #bfe0bf
}}
{{ Episode list
| Title = [[Five Gold Rings]]
| DirectedBy = Dewi Humphreys
| WrittenBy = John Sullivan
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2010|12|29|df=y}}
| Aux2 = 60 minutes
| Viewers = 5.83
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| ShortSummary =It is Christmas 1960, and the Trotters are settling into their new flat in Sir Walter Raleigh House, Peckham. Ted and Reg are still drawing the dole, and hard-working Joan is struggling to keep the family afloat by returning to her old job at the cinema, while asking her mother-in-law Violet to look after baby Rodney. A 16-year-old Del has left school and is exploring employment opportunities around the docks – including a nice line in selling 45s straight off the back of a boat from America – and Rodney's father Freddie Robdal has been temporarily detained in [[Wormwood Scrubs (HM Prison)|Wormwood Scrubs]] [[at Her Majesty's pleasure]].
| LineColor = #bfe0bf
}}
{{ Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| Title = [[The Frog and the Pussycat]]
| DirectedBy = Dewi Humphreys
| WrittenBy = John Sullivan
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|4|28|df=y}}
| Aux2 = 60 minutes
| Viewers = 3.77<ref>{{cite web|title=The Frog and the Pussycat|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/rock_and_chips/episodes/3/1/|publisher=comedy.co.uk|access-date=30 April 2011}}</ref>
| ShortSummary =Joan longs for a new life. Del also has new aspirations – to become a [[film 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/rock_and_chips/episodes/3/1/|title=Rock & Chips The Frog & The Pussycat|first=British Comedy|last=Guide|website=British Comedy Guide}}</ref>
| LineColor = #bfe0bf
}}
}}

==Reception==
Overnight figures estimated ''Rock & Chips'' was seen by 7.4 million viewers with a 28% audience share, winning the slot against [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s ''[[Wild at Heart (UK TV series)|Wild at Heart]]'' and the ''[[Dancing on Ice]]'' results show. It was the second most-watched programme of the day, behind the first ''Dancing on Ice'' programme of the evening.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jan/25/rock-and-chips-tv-ratings|title=TV ratings: ''Rock & Chips'' serves up more than 7m|last=Brook|first=Stephen|date=25 January 2010|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref> Final figures showed it was seen by 8.42 million viewers on BBC One and 279,000 on BBC HD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing/weekly-top-10? |title=Weekly Top 10 Programmes |publisher=[[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board|BARB]] |access-date=14 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130113222519/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing/weekly-top-10 |archive-date=13 January 2013 }}</ref>

Sam Wollaston for ''[[The Guardian]]'' said he was missing the interplay between Rodney and Del Boy from the original, and that the only fun in the drama was "recognising the nods, working out who's who and how it all fits into place. Otherwise, it's pretty lame."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/jan/25/rock-and-chips-24|title=''Rock & Chips'' and ''24''|last=Wollaston|first=Sam|date=25 January 2010|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref> The ''[[Daily Mirror]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Jim Shelley (TV critic)|Jim Shelley]] didn't find the storyline "interesting or convincing", finding Lyndhurst's performance as Freddie "laughable" and saying it was "bizarre" that the storyline "virtually abandoned its main character (the young Del Boy) and its best actor (the engaging James Buckley from The Inbetweeners) who played him".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/shelleyvision/2010/01/trotter-spin-off-was-one-del-o.html|title=Trotter spin off was one Del of a bad idea|last=Shelley|first=Jim|author-link=Jim Shelley (TV critic)|date=25 January 2010|work=[[Daily Mirror|Mirror.co.uk]]|access-date=14 February 2010}}</ref> In ''[[The Independent]]'', [[Tom Sutcliffe (broadcaster)|Tom Sutcliffe]] said that "the narrative's focus was blurred and the pacing weirdly off – quite a lot of the time you were well ahead of the drama and hanging around for it to catch up with you".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/the-weekends-television-the-bible-a-history-sun-channel-4brrock--chips-sun-bbc1br24-sun-sky-1-1877684.html|title=The Weekend's Television: ''The Bible: A History'', Sun, Channel 4; ''Rock & Chips'', Sun, BBC1; ''24'', Sun, Sky 1|last=Sutcliffe|first=Tom|date=25 January 2010|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref> Benji Wilson from ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' also wasn't impressed saying the viewer would have been disappointed if they "tuned in wanting to be entertained, enthused, or anything in between", and that it was an "ocean-going stinker".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/7055424/Rock-and-Chips-BBC-One-review.html|title=''Rock & Chips'', BBC One, review|last=Wilson|first=Benji|date=22 January 2010|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref>

However, ''[[The Scotsman]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Paul Whitelaw said that, despite a "disjointed" plot and it being "overstretched at 90 minutes": "It was actually pretty good. Not great, not perfect, but a watchable production from which everyone emerged with their dignity intact." He said that Buckley "delivered a charming performance in what was effectively a supporting role. Wisely choosing to suggest Del's familiar mannerisms without opting for outright impersonation, he carried off a difficult task with modest [[wikt:élan|élan]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/TV-review-Rock-and-Chips.6009537.jp|title=TV review: ''Rock and Chips'' | ''The Bible: A History''|last=Whitelaw|first=Paul|date=25 January 2010 |work=[[The Scotsman]]|publisher=[[Johnston Press]]|access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref> Writing for ''[[The Stage]]'', Harry Venning found the performances "top notch" and praised the script as "first class", saying "the comic moments were of the highest quality and beautifully crafted into the narrative".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/27090/tv-review|title=TV review|last=Venning|first=Harry|date=1 February 2010|work=[[The Stage]]|access-date=10 April 2010}}</ref> Andrew Billen from ''[[The Times]]'' described Bright's portrayal of Joan as "winsome", said Lyndhurst "produced a detailed performance" and that "''Rock & Chips'' was better than the sequel that preceded it."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6998800.ece|title=''Rock & Chips''; ''24''; ''The Bible: A History''|last=Billen|first=Andrew|date=25 January 2010|work=[[The Times]]|access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref> Keith Watson in the ''[[Metro (Associated Metro Limited)|Metro]]'' also praised the performances of Buckley and Bright, saying "They deserved a show all to themselves." Although he found the period detail "squeaky clean" and "unconvincing", he closed his review by saying: "Somehow it made me care about the Trotters in a way decades of ''Only Fools and Horses'' never came close to."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/metrolife/810247-rock-chips-is-a-worthy-prequel-to-only-fools-and-horses|title=''Rock & Chips'' is a worthy prequel to ''Only Fools and Horses''|last=Watson|first=Keith|date=25 January 2010|work=[[Metro (Associated Metro Limited)|Metro]]|access-date=1 February 2010}}</ref>

==Home media==
The pilot of ''Rock & Chips'' was released on [[DVD region code#2|Region 2]] [[DVD]] on 5 April 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0039LAPR0|title=''Rock 'N' Chips'' [DVD] [2010]|date=5 April 2010 |publisher=[[amazon.co.uk]]|access-date=10 April 2010}}</ref> The Christmas special "Five Gold Rings" was released on DVD on 28 March 2011. On 2 May 2011, the third special "The Frog and the Pussycat", was released as well as a three-disc DVD set titled "''Rock & Chips – The Complete Collection''", comprising all three of the episodes.<ref name="complete">{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004OQJSN6/ref=s9_simh_gw_p74_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=07CR7MHY7ZAQ8Z0SSZJ4&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294 | title=Rock & Chips – The Complete Collection | publisher=amazon.co.uk | access-date=30 April 2011}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{BBC programme}}
*{{IMDb title|1553620}}
*{{British Comedy Guide|tv|rock_and_chips}}

{{John Sullivan (writer)}}
{{Rock & Chips}}
{{Only Fools and Horses}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rock And Chips}}
[[Category:Fiction set in 1960]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 1961]]
[[Category:2010 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:2011 British television series endings]]
[[Category:2010s British comedy-drama television series]]
[[Category:Adultery in television]]
[[Category:BBC comedy-drama television shows]]
[[Category:English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Only Fools and Horses| ]]
[[Category:Peckham]]
[[Category:Prequel television series]]
[[Category:Television series about brothers]]
[[Category:Television series about dysfunctional families]]
[[Category:Television series set in the 1960s]]
[[Category:Television shows set in London]]
[[Category:Television shows shot at BBC Elstree Centre]]

Rock & Chips - Revision history

Kurt at 18:34, 25 February 2023

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