Inside Only Fools legend David Jason's personal tragedies from tears to hidden truth

David Jason is celebrating his 85th birthday (Image: GETTY)

Comedy legend Sir David Jason, 85, has experienced his fair share of hardships over the years, despite bringing joy to the nation as lovable rogue Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter in Only Fools and Horses. He has endured the loss of his partner to cancer over 20 years ago, as well as the passing of his Only Fools and Horses co-star John Challis in September 2021.

He spoke candidly about Challis' death and his own health struggles on Good Morning Britain.

Reflecting on Challis' passing, Jason said in September 2021: "It was not a complete surprise because poor old John hadn't been well for the last month or two but he went downhill so fast, very rapidly, that one minute we were thinking he was on the road to recovery."

Discussing his birthday milstone at the time, Jason added: "Turning 80 was all right."

He humorously noted: "One minute you're 35 and the next you're 80."

Sir David Jason starred as Delboy in Only Fools and Horses (Image: GETTY)

Jason expressed gratitude that his body is still in good working order, saying: "You're so busy getting on with life and I'm lucky that everything's still in good working condition."

In a new update, Sir David admitted that he has recently been suffering from leg issues likely induced by a recent operation to fit a new titanium hip, last October.

He told Woman's Weekly: "My god, aren't we lucky that we can do that? If we weren't living in the time when these operations are normal every day, you would be crippled."

Despite some mobility issues, the Delboy actor also shared with the Sunday Times, he has noticed one aspect of his health decline.

"My memory isn't what it used to be ... Most of us reach this point when things aren't quite as bright as they used to be," he commented.

Only Fools and Horses actor John Challis died in September 2021 (Image: Getty)

Sir David Jason pictued with his late girlfriend Myfanwy Talog (Image: Getty)

Meanwhile, his partner of 18 years, Myfanwy Talog, tragically lost her battle with breast cancer in 1995. In his autobiography, David Jason: My Life, the actor recounts being "numb with grief" during that difficult time.

He recalled the emotional turmoil they faced, saying: "You can imagine: tears. It was terrible. She had a specialist who said she should have an operation to remove her breast because radiotherapy wasn't going to shrink the cancer on its own."

Jason described the experience, saying, "That was so hard for her to take. Neither of us had known anything like this in our lives before. It was a whole new reality to get used to. It was a very stressful time, a terrible, difficult emotional time."

David started dating his wife Gill after his long-term partner Myfanwy, died. Born in 1960, Gill is 20 years younger than David, who she met in the 1990s.

The couple - who lead a largely private life - welcomed their daughter Sophie in 2001 when Gill was 41 and David was 61. They married four years later in 2005, the night before David received his OBE for services to acting and comedy.

Sir David Jason pictured with his wife Gill (right) and daughter Sophie (left) (Image: Getty)

David previously told The Guardian: "Gill and I were married at the Dorchester Hotel in 2005 on the eve of my knighthood.

"It was the happiest time. Next morning, I arose a married man and went straight off to become a bachelor. Or, at any rate, a knight bachelor. Amazing. A married man, a Sir, and all inside 24 blissful hours."

Meanwhile, David received a shock when he learned in March 2023 that he had a 52-year-old daughter named Abi he never knew existed following a paternity test.

She is the daughter of actress Jennifer Hill, who starred in the James Bond film Octopussy.

Jennifer and David had a brief romance and their daughter was born in 1970.

Speaking to The Mirror about learning he the paternity, David said: "To say it was a surprise to find out I had a daughter from years ago is an understatement.

"However, on settling with the news, I am delighted that I am now able to get to know Abi and so we meet up when we can.

"My wife, Gill, and daughter, Sophie, have been very supportive and understanding and have embraced Abi and welcomed her and her young son into her now wider family."