John Sullivan

John Sullivan was best known as the creator of the BBC comedy series Only Fools and Horses, which ran from 1981 until 2003. Across seven series and 18 Christmas specials, he wrote 64 episodes in total, and the show is still widely regarded s Britain’s favourite sitcom.

The final episode of the 1996 Christmas trilogy, Time on Our Hands, drew a record 24.3 million viewers — the highest audience ever for a British television sitcom.

Sullivan also wrote the spin-off The Green Green Grass and the prequel Rock and Chips. He created other hit BBC comedies including Citizen Smith, Just Good Friends and Dear John, and later the comedy-drama Roger, Roger. Often described as ‘the Dickens of his generation’, he was awarded an OBE in 2005 for services to drama. He died in 2011.