“I COULDN’T GET UP” — SIR DAVID JASON’S TERRIFYING NIGHT DURING HIS BATTLE WITH COVID

The beloved Only Fools and Horses star once revealed how a severe bout of COVID-19 left him so weak that he collapsed in the middle of the night and struggled to reach the door for help. His frightening account offered fans a rare glimpse of the vulnerability behind one of Britain’s most recognisable television faces.

For millions of viewers, Sir David Jason will always be remembered as Del Boy Trotter, the quick-witted character whose comic mishaps made generations laugh.

But in October 2022, the much-loved actor shared a deeply personal story about a night when he found himself unable to do something as simple as stand up.

At the time, David was 82 and recovering from what he described as a seriously bad case of COVID-19. He explained that the illness had left him so weak that when he got out of bed during the night, he collapsed against a radiator and could not get back up.

“I got it seriously bad,” he told BBC Breakfast.

“Because all the muscles weren’t working, I collapsed and I fell against the radiator… I was so weak, I couldn’t get up.”

His account was a stark reminder of how severely illness can affect even someone who had spent a lifetime entertaining audiences.

A FRIGHTENING STRUGGLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

David explained that he had got out of bed intending to go to the bathroom when his strength suddenly failed him.

He tried to use the bed to pull himself upright, but his body would not respond as he expected.

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

The experience was frightening because his arms and legs were not working properly, leaving him unable to move around independently.

Eventually, he realised he would have to find another way to reach someone who could help him.

A DESPERATE CRAWL TOWARDS THE DOOR

Unable to stand, David began moving across the floor in an attempt to reach the door.

He later described how he used his head to help drag himself forward, comparing his movements to the way a walrus crawls on land.

It was a distressing experience for the actor, who had to rely on determination and ingenuity when his physical strength was no longer enough.

He continued inching towards the door, hoping to attract attention and get assistance.

Then, just as he reached it, the door opened.

His wife, Gill Hinchcliffe, had arrived and was able to help him back to bed.

The ordeal had left him with carpet burns across his forehead and the top of his nose — physical reminders of a night he was unlikely to forget.

THE VIRUS THAT LEFT HIM SO WEAK

David said he had managed to avoid COVID-19 for much of the pandemic before contracting the virus in July 2022.

The infection affected him far more severely than he had expected.

His description of his muscles failing to work properly illustrated how debilitating the illness had been for him at the time.

The actor subsequently recovered from that episode. His account should not be mistaken for a report of a new collapse or a newly confirmed illness.

Nevertheless, his experience resonated with people who had faced serious illness themselves or watched loved ones struggle through recovery.

THE MAN BEHIND A MUCH-LOVED TELEVISION LEGEND

David Jason built an extraordinary career through roles in Only Fools and Horses, Open All Hours and A Touch of Frost.

His portrayal of Del Boy made him a household name, with audiences drawn to the character’s confidence, comic timing and endless schemes.

The story of his illness revealed a very different side of the actor: a man who, away from the cameras, had found himself frightened and physically vulnerable.

For fans accustomed to seeing him bring laughter into their homes, the account was a reminder that public figures experience the same uncertainties and health challenges as everyone else.

A STORY OF VULNERABILITY AND RECOVERY

David’s recollection was not an announcement of a new health crisis, but a candid account of a frightening experience during his recovery from COVID-19 in 2022.

He spoke openly about the difficulty of trying to move when his body would not cooperate and the relief of being found by his wife.

His honesty helped show the human reality behind a serious illness — one that can turn an ordinary moment into a frightening struggle.

Sir David Jason has given generations of viewers reasons to laugh. His account of that night offered something different: a reminder that even the people who bring joy to millions can experience moments when they need someone else to help them through.

This article recounts Sir David Jason’s previously reported COVID-19 experience in 2022. Reports at the time said he subsequently recovered; the account does not establish a new or ongoing medical emergency.

Sources: BBC News — Sir David Jason describes COVID collapse · RTÉ — Actor recalls severe COVID illness

The beloved Only Fools and Horses star once revealed how a severe bout of COVID-19 left him so weak that he collapsed in the middle of the night and struggled to reach the door for help. His frightening account offered fans a rare glimpse of the vulnerability behind one of Britain’s most recognisable television faces.

For millions of viewers, Sir David Jason will always be remembered as Del Boy Trotter, the quick-witted character whose comic mishaps made generations laugh.

But in October 2022, the much-loved actor shared a deeply personal story about a night when he found himself unable to do something as simple as stand up.

At the time, David was 82 and recovering from what he described as a seriously bad case of COVID-19. He explained that the illness had left him so weak that when he got out of bed during the night, he collapsed against a radiator and could not get back up.

“I got it seriously bad,” he told BBC Breakfast.

“Because all the muscles weren’t working, I collapsed and I fell against the radiator… I was so weak, I couldn’t get up.”

His account was a stark reminder of how severely illness can affect even someone who had spent a lifetime entertaining audiences.

A FRIGHTENING STRUGGLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

David explained that he had got out of bed intending to go to the bathroom when his strength suddenly failed him.

He tried to use the bed to pull himself upright, but his body would not respond as he expected.

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

The experience was frightening because his arms and legs were not working properly, leaving him unable to move around independently.

Eventually, he realised he would have to find another way to reach someone who could help him.

A DESPERATE CRAWL TOWARDS THE DOOR

Unable to stand, David began moving across the floor in an attempt to reach the door.

He later described how he used his head to help drag himself forward, comparing his movements to the way a walrus crawls on land.

It was a distressing experience for the actor, who had to rely on determination and ingenuity when his physical strength was no longer enough.

He continued inching towards the door, hoping to attract attention and get assistance.

Then, just as he reached it, the door opened.

His wife, Gill Hinchcliffe, had arrived and was able to help him back to bed.

The ordeal had left him with carpet burns across his forehead and the top of his nose — physical reminders of a night he was unlikely to forget.

THE VIRUS THAT LEFT HIM SO WEAK

David said he had managed to avoid COVID-19 for much of the pandemic before contracting the virus in July 2022.

The infection affected him far more severely than he had expected.

His description of his muscles failing to work properly illustrated how debilitating the illness had been for him at the time.

The actor subsequently recovered from that episode. His account should not be mistaken for a report of a new collapse or a newly confirmed illness.

Nevertheless, his experience resonated with people who had faced serious illness themselves or watched loved ones struggle through recovery.

THE MAN BEHIND A MUCH-LOVED TELEVISION LEGEND

David Jason built an extraordinary career through roles in Only Fools and Horses, Open All Hours and A Touch of Frost.

His portrayal of Del Boy made him a household name, with audiences drawn to the character’s confidence, comic timing and endless schemes.

The story of his illness revealed a very different side of the actor: a man who, away from the cameras, had found himself frightened and physically vulnerable.

For fans accustomed to seeing him bring laughter into their homes, the account was a reminder that public figures experience the same uncertainties and health challenges as everyone else.

A STORY OF VULNERABILITY AND RECOVERY

David’s recollection was not an announcement of a new health crisis, but a candid account of a frightening experience during his recovery from COVID-19 in 2022.

He spoke openly about the difficulty of trying to move when his body would not cooperate and the relief of being found by his wife.

His honesty helped show the human reality behind a serious illness — one that can turn an ordinary moment into a frightening struggle.

Sir David Jason has given generations of viewers reasons to laugh. His account of that night offered something different: a reminder that even the people who bring joy to millions can experience moments when they need someone else to help them through.

This article recounts Sir David Jason’s previously reported COVID-19 experience in 2022. Reports at the time said he subsequently recovered; the account does not establish a new or ongoing medical emergency.

Sources: BBC News — Sir David Jason describes COVID collapse · RTÉ — Actor recalls severe COVID illness