User Reviews

Tagged onto the end of the greatly-improved second series of Only Fools and Horses, Diamonds are for Heather served as the 1982 Christmas special. Still adhering to the half-hour format which would eventually make way for longer Christmas episodes, Diamonds are for Heather establishes itself as a special through more than just its Christmas setting. While the previous year's Christmas Crackers had been a deliberately mundane, almost angry feelbad episode, Diamonds are for Heather brings a bruised romanticism and touching pathos to Peckham, something which would figure more greatly as the series went on. The tone, though still downbeat, feels a lot more appropriate for Christmas, its warm sentimentalism playing better than Christmas Crackers' frosty apathy. Focusing on a budding romance between Del and a single mother, Diamonds are for Heather establishes a deep-seated desire for a settled family life that speaks of the gradual maturation that John Sullivan seeded in the series across its lengthy run. An early gag about Del having "had a few dogs" in his time recalls the detrimental sexism of the previous year's special, but here it works as Del catches himself using the phrase in front of the woman in whom he is interested and pulls back from it, acknowledging the undesirable characteristic in a flawed man who is willing to grow for the right woman.

In some ways Diamonds are for Heather is an unusual Only Fools and Horses episode, in that it is extremely Del-centric, with Rodney and Grandad completely marginalised and the material they are given not really working. Aside from a throwaway homophobic joke, the main problem is that they have no real place in this story, or worse, they undermine it. Their response to Del's newfound love is irritation and concern for themselves as they wonder who will pay the rent on the flat if Del leaves them for a new family. There's a lot of fertile ground to explore there, what with Del's own abandonment issues relating to his father, and in later years, when he had 50 minutes per episode to play with, Sullivan probably would've tackled this angle and made Del's dedication to his family the thing that destroys his relationship rather than the return of Heather's husband. The idea of family ties standing in the way of dreams was thoroughly explored later in the excellent episode Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, so perhaps it's better that it wasn't also the thrust of this episode lest repetition take hold. But the way the Rodney and Grandad plot is half-heartedly set up and then left dangling is the one really unsatisfying thing about Diamonds are for Heather.

Fortunately, the rest of Diamonds are for Heather is really good. Though half an hour isn't quite long enough to properly set up the central romance, this problem is partially addressed through endearingly whimsical montage, making fantastic use of Fat Larry's Band's ballad Zoom in the process. Rather than get laughs from Del obliviously humiliating himself in the pursuit of romance, Diamonds are for Heather adds a sweetness that makes the connection between Del and Heather convincing and their scenes together amusing in a gentle way. Rosalind Lloyd competently plays Heather, making her sympathetic and hinting at a greater complexity that, again, is swallowed up by the short runtime. Sullivan was just too good a writer by this point to be constricted by the tradition sitcom length but he makes the most of a terrific climactic scene in which a proposal becomes a breakup. Despite the melancholy storyline, this scene is so packed with brilliant jokes that it achieves a perfect balance between laughter and pathos. It's a great example of a type of gag-based sitcom writing that eventually went out of fashion but at which Sullivan is as adept as he is with the character beats.

I had mixed feelings about returning to Diamonds are for Heather after so many years, since this was one of those episodes you really hoped wouldn't come on as a kid. Back then, you wanted to see the Trotters flapping about after butterflies or accidentally killing canaries, but as a 40 year old man who has now experienced love, heartbreak and the desperate desire to be a father myself, Diamonds are for Heather works rather wonderfully and feels like a key episode in establishing the more dramatic tone that would ultimately make Only Fools and Horses such a compelling and enduring classic.

A few week's after the end of the sublime and in my opinion the best series of "Fools" came the show's second Christmas special "Diamonds are for Heather" the title of course being a parody of the James Bond film "Diamonds are forever"

Del is drowning his sorrows at the Nags heads Spanish evening after the bird he was seeing ( "No know her with the nose") has given him the old heave-ho. Not even a good old sing song can lift his mood. After treating all the regulars to a Spanish version of "Old Shep" the evening look's like it's over , that's until he catches a glimpse of Heater out the corner of his eye. Del entertains her and being the true gentleman he is makes sure she gets safely back to her flat. He discovers that her husband is away down the job centre but he left 18 months ago. Romance soon blossoms between the two and Del becomes like a dad to her little boy Darren. Del decides it's the right time to pop the question to Heather but she has other ideas as her husband has got back in touch and leaves Del broken hearted.

This episode is considered by many as the worse episode of "Fools" i don't share this opinion and absolutely love this episode. It's nice to see a different side of Del for the first time very clever writing here by John Sullivan some real laughs and tears.The ending of the episode is particularly poignant brilliant performance by David Jason he really shines in this episode.

Best bit - The ending so moving no dialogue just David Jason's wonderful acting when he pay's the Carol singers to play "Old Shep" and drives away alone.

"Diamonds Are for Heather" is being unfairly considered one of the worst episodes ever, and people just hate it because it's the "cool" thing to do. That's not true. It's actually good to watch if you give it a chance.

Del meets a beautiful woman named Heather during Christmas time, and becomes smitten with her and her son Darren. They get along so well, until Heather is forced to join her husband Vic in Southampton.

You see, it's a real good episode character-wise for Del Boy, and shows us his soft spot for children when he gets along with Heather's son Darren, and how Del would make a good father and husband if he put his mind to it. This would later develop when Del meets Raquel and they have Damien.

In other words, anybody who hates this episode does not like watching sitcoms! Anybody who likes this episode is a true Only Fools and Horses fan.

Best Bit: HEATHER: (after listening to Old Shep) Did you have an old dog? DEL BOY: I've had many old dogs in my time! Second Best Bit: The montage of Del taking Heather and Darren all around London for the day set to Fat Larry's Band's "Zoom".