Sir David Jason's 'terrifying' health battle as agonising pain left him sleepless

David Jason shares heartwarming story about Ronnie Barker

Sir David Jason revealed he had received a "terrifying" canalicular bypass after he had to drop out of an Only Fools and Horses convention to have the operation.

Sir David appeared to suggest he had received the surgery for the first time two years prior, but then had to return in this summer to get a “re-fit” which left him feeling like the "site of an archaelogical excavation"

Writing in his latest memoir, Sir David shared: "For days afterwards I couldn't sleep afterwards because everytime I turned over onto that side, or even even thought about doing so, the pain would set off an alarm bell throughout my body and I would wake up."

He added: "Then when I was strong enough, I advanced to the next stage of the programme, which involved, among other things, cycling on a static bike."

Asked how he is doing following his operation, he later told Lorraine Kelly, he was "on the mend" and spoke about how he was unable to move for several weeks afterwards.

On the show, in November last year, the actor revealed: "I am fine. I'm having a little trouble getting the muscles back because I was so infirm for two to three weeks as it were.

Sir David Jason has spoke on his hip operation. (Image: Getty)

"I wasn't using the legs at all, that's where I am now, getting it back, doing some exercises. But the hip itself is wonderful."

Sir David previously shared a statement on his Facebook page about having to pull out of the planned Only Fools convention.

He wrote: "I am so very sorry for the disappointment and all the inconvenience it may cause but we are having to change the date of the forthcoming Only Fools and Horses Convention.

"Unfortunately I have just been advised I need a new bionic body part fitted. I won't tell you which part it is, or you will all want one!

David Jason is best known for playing Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses. (Image: Getty)

"Don't worry, Monkey Harris is not supplying it; it'll be the pukka gear."

He added, "I really hope everyone will be able to make the new dates of January 13th and 14th.

"We can all have something cushty to look forward to! These events are such an enjoyable celebration for myself and the rest of the Only Fools' cast, and it is such a privilege to meet so many of you, but I want to do it with the smile on my face I always have had."

Sir David has struggled with his health after a "seriously bad" battle with Covid in July 2022.

The viral infection left him so frail he suffered a fall at his home in Ellesborough, Buckinghamshire, and told BBC Breakfast about his tumble.

He shared: "All the muscles weren't working. I collapsed and I fell against the radiator. I was so weak I couldn't get up.

"I tried for about a quarter of an hour, trying all sorts of things to stand up so I could walk about.

"But to do that, I had to use my head. So now I'm lying face down on the ground, and getting to the door – and the arms weren't working, and the legs weren't working – I was using my head to drag me to the door."