Latest news with #DelBoy
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
2025 Ford Transit review
No self-respecting British tradie would be seen dead in a ute. What a Pommy geezer needs is a Ford Transit van. Preferably in white and on steel wheels – hazard lights working overtime as it's slung up a kerb, blocking traffic for 'just a minute, mate!' While Aussies buy utes, pick-ups or American trucks for work and lifestyle, the Brits' relationship with the mighty Transit goes back to 1965. Aussies buy roughly ten times more utes than vans, but it's vice-versa in the UK. As a kid growing up in England, Transits were an integral part of daily life. Ambos and posties had them, a rusty 1976 example was our school sport bus, and a police Transit would sit outside the local pub at closing time. Transits remain the patriotic choice of UK delivery drivers, market traders, removalists, fruit 'n veg sellers and dodgy Del Boys literally selling out the back of a van. 'Thieves chariot' is common slang for Transit. As part of my birthright, it was my duty to test the new-generation Transit on Aussie soil. Ford facilitated me being White Van Man for a week, furnishing me with a Transit Custom Trend LWB (long wheelbase). At around $63,000 drive-away, it's the cheapest available bar a 367mm-shorter SWB at a grand less. It's a lot of coin in the 'one-tonne' medium van segment. Rivals include the Hyundai Staria Load (from $46,740), LDV G10+ (from $37,884) Toyota HiAce (from $48,886) and Renault Trafic (from $49,490). But look to van tests here and overseas, and it's the pricey Ford scooping awards. On first drive, it's apparent why. A 'car-like driving experience' is a cliche for any commercial vehicle, but the Transit really is an easy, composed and comfortable thing to live with. Piloting one isn't a huge departure from a large SUV. There are all your driver aids, adaptive cruise control, a small digital driver display, giant 13-inch landscape infotainment, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless phone charger, sat nav and 5G modem. Two of its three bench seats are heated. There's fancy independent rear suspension helping ride quality and handling, and unladen or with almost a tonne in the back, the Transit absorbs bumps well and corners safely. And proves incomparably useful. My daughter got a (pre-assembled) bunk bed, we bought a new Queen mattress ($70 delivery fee saved), and for tradition's sake, we even transported an old piano. Damn, they're heavy. The Transit's easier to load than a ute with its kerbside sliding door and mighty wide opening rear barn doors. And the cargo stays dry, protected and locked under the metal roof. But I hear you, Ford Ranger faithfuls, a Transit won't off-road or tow a 3-tonne caravan. Even so, there's 2500kg towing and 1223kg payload capacity. Its 2.0-litre turbo-diesel offers only 125kW, so it runs out of puff quite quickly, but its chunky 390Nm makes it rapid off the mark in town, where these Fords are at their best. We retuned an impressive 6.9L/100km over 630km of delivery jobs. Bar a few stutters, its eight-speed auto's a smoothie. The turning circle's adequate at 12.8 metres, but this LWB is 5450mm long, so parking's a hassle. But nobody seems to mind you abandoning a Transit up a footpath … Van traits remain. You sit very high almost over the front wheels; scratchy cabin plastics feel a long way from a $60k vehicle, and seat cloth is rather workmanlike. In this entry-level spec you must adjust seats manually and wheels are titchy 16-inch steelies. I also found its giant 6.8 square metres load area too spartan. The walls have soft cladding and there are eight tie-down floor points, but nothing to secure loads up high. Insulated ceiling wiring looked too exposed, and I had to towel-wrap the tethered car jack to stop it damaging my cargo. Rear visibility's poor through the rear cabin glass, and at night the giant screen reflects on it, making things worse. A digital rearview mirror showing the (excellent) rear camera view would solve this. Positively, Transit choice is lengthy. There's also a full size van; a 12-seater bus; cab chassis; five-seat double cab Transit Custom; a Sport grade and all-wheel-drive Trail grade. Greenies can ditch the diesel and go plug-in or full EV. Are these big white boxes as sexy as your tricked up dual-cab ute? Of course they're not. But you'd be fool to underestimate the versatility of a Ford Transit. They securely haul a lot more stuff and the drive experience is rather lovely. And there's nothing quite like leaning out the window, putting on your best London accent and shouting: 'Get out that way, ya Muppet!' to fellow road users.
Daily Record
25-06-2025
- Daily Record
Edinburgh Princes Street death probe continues as cops stand guard near forensic tent
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 6am on Wednesday following reports of an unresponsive man in the street. A police investigation remains ongoing after the body of a man was discovered on Princes Street in Edinburgh. Emergency services were called to the scene at around 6am on Wednesday following reports of an unresponsive man in the street. Ambulance crews attended but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Pictures taken this afternoon show a large area of the major city centre street cordoned off. Officers can be seen standing guard near a forensic tent, which was erected this morning. A number of police vehicles remain in attendance at the scene. The forensic tent has been placed next to a camping tent at the entrance to Uniqlo on the street. The death is currently still being treated as unexplained. Police say their enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances. More On Edinburgh Police Scotland News all Top Stories Scottish 'Del Boy' tea fraudster who swindled luxury hotels has sentencing delayed Courts Body of man found on Edinburgh's Princes Street as forensic tent erected Edinburgh Store owner on shoplifting hell of terrifying knife threats and thefts Police Scotland Scots households urged to submit meter readings as Ofgem price cap falls Fuel bills Cuts to the fire service in Scotland could cost lives, says union Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Sunbed addict who tanned five times a week given one year to live Cancer Rangers transfer news as Dessers sees AEK hijack attempt and Ramsdale told Ibrox would be 'backwards step' Rangers FC Transfer News TUI tourists blast food at Corfu hotel but were stunned by company's response Holidays Scotland's first openly gay footballer Zander Murray to host Pride events in Glasgow Glasgow Man stabbed own brother to death in brutal attack in rural Scots village Courts Jordan Henderson 'no longer suited' to Premier League as Rangers on transfer alert over ex Liverpool ace Rangers FC Rapist and killer executed on death row 30 years after crimes UK & World
Glasgow Times
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
The area that London star Sir David Jason grew up in
Sir David is best known for his role as Del Boy in the BBC sitcom, along with shows, A Touch of Frost, Open All Hours, and The Darling Buds of May. But before becoming a household name and a British national treasure, Sir David spent his time in the London suburb of North Finchley. The area of London where Sir David Jason grew up Born David White, the actor grew up in post-war London as the son of a fishmonger and a cleaning lady. In 2013, Sir David opened up about his childhood with The Scotsman, describing memories of playing on bombsites and learning to play the fool to not get bullied. Sharing with the publication: "I was very shy and had low self-esteem, the only way to stop yourself getting beaten up was to turn your hand to being an idiot." Sir David was inspired to become an actor after his older brother Arthur had won a scholarship to a drama school, and the local amateur dramatic group were short on boys, seeing him sign up. Recommended Reading He attended Northfield Secondary Modern after failing his 11-plus in 1951. Leaving school at 15, he had few aspirations and at 20 worked as an electrician before trying to give professional acting a go. After several years of auditions, in 1965 Sir David made his TV debut in the BBC pantomime as a funny policeman and soon began his decades-long career.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Only Fools And Horses 'lost' scene emerges 29 YEARS later as script signed by David Jason goes to auction
A 'lost' scene from a classic Only Fools and Horses episode has emerged 29 years later. It was written into the script of the 1996 Christmas special, titled Heroes & Villains, but never made it into the final cut. In the episode, Del Boy (David Jason) and Rodney Trotter (Nicholas Lyndhurst) dressed up as Batman and Robin to prevent a mugging. But it appears there was also an extended scene involving Del later chasing down a mugger and knocking him unconscious with his suitcase full of hooky gear. In the cut scene, it is scripted that a policeman arrives and Del tells him 'It's alright officer, I caught him, he's over there,' but the policeman then arrests Rodney instead of the mugger. The missing scene has emerged in a working script that belonged to the late Roger Lloyd Pack who played Trigger in the sitcom. The 155 page script, estimated to sell for between £2,000 and £3,000, is coming up for sale at Bristol-based Auctioneum on June 30. According to The Sun, Auctioneer Andy Stowe described it as 'comedy history, in black and white.' He explained: 'As a fan of the show myself, I was flicking through the script and began to read lines of dialogue that I didn't recognise. 'As I carried on reading, I realised that these were scenes and lines that had been cut from the episode. Some of them are very funny. 'There are several scenes cut from the episode that focus on the plot of the muggers. 'There was considerable work by the writer, John Sullivan, to establish the threat of them throughout the episode but most of these early scenes were cut from the final show. 'To have Roger's actual script, with his lines marked within it, is really something special. This is comedy history, in black and white on the page.' Only Fools and Horses has been slapped with a trigger warning some fans have deemed 'excessively woke '. The BBC show is known for being feel-good TV, but has become the latest sitcom to be issued with disclaimers around offensive or outdated language, according to The Sun. All seven series of the 80s hit starring David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst and the late Lennard Pearce are on streaming platform ITVX. However, many of the episodes have been hit with trigger warnings for racial and 'outdated attitudes'. 'The Russians are Coming' from series one was a fan favourite, but now features a disclaimer that reads: 'Contains some offensive racial language of the time.' 'The Yellow Peril' from the second series and 'Who's A Pretty Boy' from the third also feature a number of warnings now. Two episodes in the fourth installment also have a warning, while 'The Miracle of Peckham' from series five warns of language that 'may offend'. The only two series which did not receive a disclaimer of some kind are the sixth and seventh. Even the 1985 Christmas special includes a message that says: 'Contains dated attitudes and behaviours and racist language some viewers may find offensive.' The repeats of Only Fools And Horses still air on digital channel U&Gold and have also been slapped with warnings. Fans have taken to social media to share their frustration at the new warnings. One said: 'It takes a brave platform to showcase a comedy. People are desperate to be outraged and offended in this country Even UK Gold has to give a f***ing warning before showing an episode of Only Fools And Horses,' 'I'm watching series 1 of Only Fools & Horses and I wonder how much of this humour would get written today. If any, it's comedy genius but the woke brigade cancel it out nowadays,' 'You know you are living in an upside down offended by everything society when the TV is giving warnings before airing episodes of Only Fools And Horses,' 'This is what happens when everyone gets offended all the time, comedy programs are on their a**e, nowadays you watch only fools and horses and before it comes on they pretty much say these are old jokes that might offend a little whine bag with no soul,' 'There'll never be a new series of Only Fools And Horses because the 2024 generation will get offended,' 'Being offended by Only Fools And Horses, pathetic, get a grip,' 'Anyone offended by Only Fools And Horses has clearly had a sense of humour failure, and needs to lighten up.'
Daily Record
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
David Jason's peaceful village life where homes cost an average £600k
David Jason has traded the spotlight for the quiet life in a rural village where houses costs more than £600,000 on average... David Jason has left behind the glitz of showbiz for a peaceful life in Ellesborough, Buckinghamshire - a scenic village nestled at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, where homes cost an average £653,848. Though he's one of Britain's most cherished actors, the Del Boy actor has happily settled into the quiet living of rural life. Sir David's low-key lifestyle is a stark contrast to his long and celebrated career, which includes his standout roles in Only Fools and Horses, A Touch of Frost, and The Darling Buds of May. Locals regularly see the actor at The Russell Arms, a traditional pub in the nearby hamlet of Butlers Cross that acts as a community hub for the whole village, the Express reports. The pub is well known for its friendly vibes and classic British dishes. Sir David also enjoys the use of the playing fields and allotments at Royal Mead, a cherished communal space in the village. But it's in his own extensive garden that David finds true peace - a private garden where he unwinds. He is also a dedicated gardening enthusiast, having developed a passion for topiary, shaping his shrubs into elaborate shapes - including animals. In addition to his love for shaping his greenery, the star is an avid tomato grower. He starts each growing season by carefully planting seeds that he collects from the previous year's crop. Sir David has spoken fondly about the anticipation he feels waiting for the seedlings to appear. 'Every day or two, I'll sneak in and check on them," he said. "After a few weeks, I'll start getting impatient and do a bit of coaxing: 'What's the matter with you?'' Once his crops sprout, the actor uses the tomatoes to make relish and chutney, and gives them out to his neighbours and family members. Although Only Fools and Horses has been off the air for a number of years, Sir David is in no rush as he can afford to enjoy living life at a much slower pace in his idyllic village. Despite stepping back from the spotlight, he still earns around £1 million a year and has brought in over £2.3 million in the past two years, according to reports. Back in 2017, Sir David was listed among the BBC's top earners, with his salary reported to be between £300,000 and £349,999. According to CelebrityNetWorth, Sir David has a net worth of approximately £7.2 million, thanks to his iconic career.
