Only Fools star’s widow left ‘weeping’ at husband’s grave in heartbreaking discovery

Only Fools and Horses: Sue Holderness remembers John Challis

Only Fools and Horses star John Challis’ widow Carol made a heartfelt discovery at his grave this Christmas.

Carol tied the knot with Boycie star John in 1995, and the pair remained together until his death in 2021 aged 79. Now she has taken to social media to share a discovery she made during the festive season at the cemetery in Leintwardine, Herefordshire.

The grave, bearing John’s name and profession along with the dates 1942-2021, had been decorated with a festive wreath and flowers, including a tiny Christmas tree.

Carol wrote on X: “I’ve just had a little weep. The people at Wigmore Abbey, Steve, Andrea and Victoria went to see John early this morning and left all this Christmas loveliness for him. Never forgotten, Challis.”

Wigmore Abbey was John’s home and featured in Only Fools spin-off Green Green Grass, detailing Boycie’s family life after leaving London. The Grade-I listed property featured seven bedrooms and was listed for sale for £1.5million in 2023.

In another tweet, Carol paid tribute to her lost family members at Christmas, penning: “Especially over Christmas, my thoughts have been with my much loved and missed mother Libby, father Denis, nephew Simon and my darling husband. All gone. All those memories.”

John died “peacefully in his sleep” after battling cancer. His family released a statement at the time which read: “He will always be loved for being 'Boycie' and leaves a great legacy of work that will continue to bring pleasure and smiles for many years to come.

John Challis died in 2021 after battling cancer (Image: Getty)

"Be assured that in the future there will be an occasion to celebrate John's life - when everyone will be welcome to come along."

It was reported his health “went downhill quickly” before his death, with Sir David Jason telling This Morning: “It wasn’t 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 and sadly it just took him.”