Two famous actors turned down the role of Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses. David Jason was given the part.
Oscar-winning actor Jim Broadbent, 75, revealed he was the second star to play Del Boy but had to turn it down due to work.
Enn Reitel, 74, was bosses' first choice to play Del Boy before Jim and David were offered the famous part, but she didn't want to play the role.
During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Jim revealed the real reason he and I switched.
He said: 'At first, I was second choice for Del Boy.
Two famous actors turned down the role of Del Boy before Sir David Jason (pictured) was offered the part in Only Fools and Horses.
It comes after Sir David Jason (pictured) expressed his 'genuine regret' in the Only Fools and Horses character.
'The first choice was Enn Reitel, but she didn't want it and I couldn't do it because I was doing a show in the West End.
'Luckily, my biggest contribution to British culture didn't happen because I got David Jason!', he joked.
It comes after Sir David expressed 'genuine regret' at his Only Fools and Horses character and admitted he was haunted by the role.
The actor, 84, revealed his true feelings in a candid interview on BBC Breakfast with John Kay on Tuesday.
The Touch of Frost star explained that his other work has been overshadowed.
David told the show that he felt Derek Trotter's 'ghost' following him, and explained that he felt the character was hanging over him.
He said: 'That Derek Trotter thing, he's a ghost coming after me like a ghost Christmas carol.'
Despite a career spanning decades in film and television, the star expressed frustration that he was too familiar with the role of Del Boy.
Oscar-winning actor Jim Broadbent, 75, (pictured) revealed he was the second star to play Del Boy but had to turn it down due to work commitments.
Before Jim and David were offered the famous part, bosses' first choice to play Del Boy was 74-year-old Ann Riedel (pictured), but she didn't want to play the part.
Although David is not disillusioned with his career, he reveals that he still has many unfulfilled goals and is haunted by the ghost of his iconic character.
The star revealed to BBC Breakfast's John (pictured right) that her real disappointment was that she had always wanted to be a national drama star.
That character makes me hang back and a little sad because that's what people remember me for, he said.
'I'm kind of happy that it's reached a lot of people, they've enjoyed what I've done with the character, but I've done a lot of things that everyone seems to have forgotten. It's like I only played Derek Trotter.'
Although David is not disillusioned with his career, he reveals that there are still many goals that he has not achieved and that is followed by the ghost of his most iconic character.
The star explained: 'My real disappointment or regret, if you will, is that I always wanted to be a national drama player.
'I always wanted to be on the national stage. It's that romantic movie of acting in those big productions with all those big, amazing actors. That never happened.'
When host John says he still has time to fulfill his dream of getting on stage, Jason replies that his time is up, explaining that his memory isn't.
He said: 'You wonder if the old memory will be enough. I can do that with autocue stuff.'.
But seemed to shake his depressed mood, then playfully turned the camera and said, 'Hey! Yes, National Theatre, I'll be available!'.
His addition comes after the star revealed in an interview earlier in the year that he would be reprising his popular role
His addition comes after the star revealed he will be reprising his famous role.
Earlier in the year David said he would be happy to take on the role of Del Boy again, but said a reboot was unlikely after the hit TV series' head writer John Sullivan tragically died in 2011.
Of a possible reboot, he told The Sun: 'Well, to be honest with you, we'd love to because we enjoyed it so much, but so did most of the British public. Because of this, we want to do it.
But he added: 'I don't think we can do another episode of Only Fools and Horses because the brains behind it, Mr John Sullivan, is sadly no longer with us.'
