Sir David Jason - David Jason Not Convinced 'Only Fools And Horses' Will Crossover Well To America

David Jason isn't too happy with the plans to remake the seminal British comedy 'Only Fools And Horses' in America, questioning whether the humour of the original - which made true household names of himself and NICHOLAS LINDHURST during its original run between 1981 and 2003 - will transfer across to the other side of the Atlantic.

Jason was speaking in the British town of Huddersfield, reports the BBC, where he's currently directing a pilot episode for a sitcom called 'Pearly Gates,' and said of US network ABC's plans to adapt his most well-known role as wheeler dealer Del Boy, "They can do brilliant comedy [in America] but I don't see that they can bring off Fools and Horses, I don't see that it will travel across the pond." Continuing, he added "It might work but you've got to change it so much that, in the change, in order to Americanise it, do you lose the whole concept of the piece?"

One of the main reasons for his cynicism surrounding the switch is the alterations in language that would have to be made for American audiences, the actor stating "The language will have to change so much and there will be so many parts of the storyline you have to change. It's so London and so British, [in] its humour, that you wonder. It's London based and it took quite a long time for the rest of the country to catch up with the phrases - I have no idea what the American equivalent of 'plonker' is, for example. Or 'dipstick'." Nevertheless he did suggest Johnny Depp as the perfect candidate to play the role of Del Boy, admitting he was a huge fan of the actor. It's true that crossovers of British comedy haven't always found success in the States, though some will point to the slow burning success of the US 'Office,' which has now gained a cult following and done nothing to harm the reputation of its main star STEVE CARELL.