Rodney Charlton Trotter (born 26 February 1960) is a
fictional characterA character is the representation of a person in a narrative or dramatic work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr through its Latin transcription character, the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its...
in the
BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation, usually referred to by its abbreviation as the "BBC", is the longest established and largest broadcaster in the world...
sitcom
Only Fools and HorsesOnly Fools and Horses is a British television sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan, and made and broadcast by the BBC. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1991, with sporadic Christmas specials until 2003.Set in Peckham in south London,...
, played by
Nicholas LyndhurstNicholas Simon Lyndhurst is an English actor, Lyndhurst is perhaps best known for his roles as Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses and as Gary Sparrow in Goodnight Sweetheart.-Career:...
.
Date of birth
The BBC comedy guide for
Only Fools and Horses clearly states that Rodney's birthday is 26 February; but this is contradicted in "Sleepless in Peckham", when Cassandra mistakes Freddie the Frog in an old 1960s photo of the first Jolly Boys' Outing as Rodney. Rodney corrects her, claiming that the photo was taken in July 1960 before he was born (according to Rodney), thus making Rodney's date of birth as the date he reveals it to be in "The Unlucky Winner Is..." 2 November.
Personality
Rodney's personality was based on the experiences of series creator
John SullivanJohn Sullivan OBE , is the writer of several British sitcoms including the immensely popular Only Fools and Horses as well as Citizen Smith, Dear John, Just Good Friends, Roger Roger, and The Green Green Grass...
, who also had an older sibling and, like Rodney, claimed to have been a dreamer and an idealist in his youth.
One aspect of Rodney's personality that is explored in many different episodes is that Rodney likes women in uniforms, especially policewomen. This is explored first of all in "
Go West Young ManGo West Young Man is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the second episode of series 1, and was first screened on 15 September 1981.-Synopsis:...
" when Rodney tells Del that he was planning to dress his then ex-girlfriend up as a policewoman of a period of time.
It is also mentioned in "
Sleeping Dogs LieSleeping Dogs Lie is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the fifth episode of series 4 and first broadcast on 21 March 1985.-Synopsis:...
" when Del sees Rodney eyeing up a nurse.
In "
The Unlucky Winner Is...The Unlucky Winner Is... is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the fourth episode of series 6, and was first screened on 29 January 1989.-Synopsis:...
", Rodney is fearful of seeing a nuse, because she would need to go on a diet to "get in the Roly Polys". Del Boy reminds Rodney he likes a woman in uniform. Rodney, embarrassed, disagrees. Casandra smiles.
In "
If They Could See Us NowIf They Could See Us Now is an episode of the BBC sitcom, Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 25 December 2001 as the first part of the early 2000s Christmas trilogy.-Synopsis:...
", Cassandra dresses up as a policewoman from
The Bill...
because of Rodney's fascination with policewomen, as part of 'Frantasy Therapy' in order to spice up her and Rodney's marriage.
Personal life
Del claimed in "
Mother Nature's SonMother Nature's Son is a Christmas special episode of the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses. It was first broadcast on 25 December 1992.-Synopsis:...
" that Rodney was still being breast fed, until he was 3 and a half years old, but this was probably not true and said only to embarrass Rodney. As a child, Rodney was "all snot and Marmite" with a "funny haircut". After leaving school with GCEs in Art and Mathematics, he was expelled from Art College for smoking
cannabisCannabisalso known as marijuana or marihuana, and ganja , among many other namesrefers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug...
. In the early episodes, Rodney was troubled by this, and also by the fact that he had a very poor job, and lived in a very grotty flat. He was worried that he would never find independence, which he really did long for. When he met Cassandra, it finally gave him a chance to move on in life, which resulted in him leaving Del behind. (This was conveyed beautifully in "
Little ProblemsLittle Problems is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the final episode of series 6, and was first screened on 12 February 1989.-Synopsis:...
", at the end, when everyone had left the wedding reception and Del was standing all on his own, holding the groom from the wedding cake).
In the later episodes, the only thing that troubled Rodney was his nephew Damien, whom he has recurring nightmares about, as he was convinced that he was going to be the son of satan, and being named Damien didn't help matters at all. (Even though it was due to Rodney's bright idea that he was named Damien in the first place). Also the fact that
TriggerColin Ball , is a character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. He is played by actor Roger Lloyd Pack....
has been calling him "Dave" since 1981. He didn't know that Rodney was called Rodney, he always called him "Dave", and no matter how many opportunites Trigger had to realise that "Dave" was not Rodney's name, he continued to call him Dave. The best one being portayed in "
Modern MenModern Men is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the second episode of the 1996 Christmas trilogy, and was first screened on 27 December 1996.-Synopsis:...
", when Mike announced a toast to future Mum and Dad "Cassandra & Rodney", Everyone said "Cassandra & Rodney" but you could hear Trigger shout "Dave!". And, as well as the millions of pounds the family lost after they struck it rich, putting them over 50k in debt. Finally, it ended happily after they found that
AlbertAlbert Gladstone Trotter was a character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. He was played by Buster Merryfield....
left both Rodney and Del £145,000 each, in his will.
Family
Rodney is the younger brother of
Derek "Del Boy" TrotterDerek Edward Trotter , more commonly known as "Del Boy", is the fictional lead character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses...
, and is after Del the main character in the series. "Rodders", as he is affectionately known by his big brother, has stuck by Del through thick and thin. Rodney is not as streetwise as his brother. Del's comments whenever Rodney makes a mistake have become catchphrases. They include "Plonker", "Dipstick" and the definitive "What a 42 carat plonker you really are!".
Rodney is the son of Joan Mavis Trotter, grandson of Edward Trotter, and great nephew of
Albert TrotterAlbert Gladstone Trotter was a character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. He was played by Buster Merryfield....
. He has a nephew named Damien.
Throughout the series, Rodney's assumed father was Reg Trotter, although his actual paternity was occasionally called into question, such as in the 1983 and 1987 Christmas specials "
Thicker Than WaterThicker than Water is an episode of the BBC sitcom, Only Fools and Horses. It was the third Christmas special, and was first screened on 25 December 1983.-Synopsis:...
" and "
The Frog's LegacyThe Frog's Legacy is the sixth Christmas special episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was first screened on 25 December 1987.-Synopsis:...
" due to the unavoidable fact that he shared little resemblance to either Del or Reg in terms of appearance or personality. In the final
Only Fools and Horses episode, the 2003 Christmas special "
Sleepless in PeckhamSleepless in Peckham is an episode of BBC sitcom, Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 25 December 2003 as the third and final part of the early 2000s Christmas trilogy, and as the final episode of the entire series.-Synopsis:...
", Rodney discovered through an old photograph of the very first Jolly Boys' Outing that he and Del did not actually share the same father. His biological father was revealed to be local gentleman thief, Freddie "The Frog" Robdal, who had an affair with Rodney's mother in 1959.
Rodney lives with Cassandra, their daughter Joan, Del, Del's "significant other" Raquel and their son Damien at door 368 on the 12th floor of the fictional
Nelson MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela is a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in a fully representative democratic election, who held office from 1994–99. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of the African National Congress's armed wing Umkhonto...
House in Dockside Estate,
PeckhamPeckham is an area of London, England, in the London Borough of Southwark, located 3.5 miles south-east of Charing Cross, about one mile east of Camberwell and one mile west of New Cross....
,
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
.
Marriage with Cassandra
Rodney found a supportive partner in Cassandra, whom he met at a computer training course in "
Yuppy LoveYuppy Love is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the first episode of series 6, and was first screened on 8 January 1989...
", and married her in 1989. Her father Alan employed Rodney at his company Parry Print Ltd (at least until Rodney accidentally quit that job), and, with some financial assistance from Del, he was able to buy a flat and finally move out of
Nelson MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela is a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in a fully representative democratic election, who held office from 1994–99. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of the African National Congress's armed wing Umkhonto...
House. Their marriage suffered when Rodney punched Cassandra's boss, and broke his nose, when returning from Margate in "
The Jolly Boys' OutingThe Jolly Boys' Outing is the eighth Christmas special episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 25 December 1989.-Synopsis:...
". They split up in the next episode; "
Rodney Come HomeRodney Come Home is the ninth Christmas special episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 25 December 1990.Unlike the other Christmas specials, this episode is not a one-off story, but sets up story arcs that run throughout the following series...
", and throughout the seventh season attempted to patch up their relationship; in "
The Chance of a LunchtimeThe Chance of a Lunchtime is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the second episode of series 7, and first broadcast on 6 January 1991.-Synopsis:...
" Del played matchmaker, in order for them to re-unite. This worked, until Rodney was seen by Cassandra, with one of Del's ex-fiancees, when he was accompanying her to a taxi, because she was very drunk. In "
Three Men, a Woman and a Baby"Three Men, a Woman and a Baby" is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the final episode of series 7, and was first broadcast on 3 February 1991...
"", Cassandra told Rodney that it was all over between them, until her mum insisted she see their solicitor for advice, who told her that they should talk. They re-united after Rodney took advantage of her, by pretending a ponytail was a rat. He stayed the night but they were interrupted by Del phoning to say
RaquelRachel "Raquel" Turner is a fictional character from the BBC television sit-com Only Fools and Horses, in which she was Del Boy's long-term girlfriend...
had gone into labour. In "
Miami Twice"Miami Twice" was a two-part Christmas special edition of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. The first episode, on screen sub-title The American Dream, was first screened on 24 December 1991. The second episode, on screen title Miami Twice, sub-titled Oh to Be in England in the Radio Times,...
", it was revealed that they had had a row, and Cassandra had kicked him out of the flat, and they were only spending weekends together. In "
Mother Nature's SonMother Nature's Son is a Christmas special episode of the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses. It was first broadcast on 25 December 1992.-Synopsis:...
", they were back together and remained together ever since. Since then, they were tying for a baby, and it was announces that Cassandra was pregnant at the end of "
Heroes and VillainsHeroes and Villains is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 25 December 1996 as the first part of the 1996 Christmas trilogy...
", However she miscarried at the end of the following episode; "
Modern MenModern Men is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the second episode of the 1996 Christmas trilogy, and was first screened on 27 December 1996.-Synopsis:...
". Rodney and Cassandra now have a young daughter called Joan, who Rodney named after his late mother and who was born in the last ever episode; "
Sleepless in PeckhamSleepless in Peckham is an episode of BBC sitcom, Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 25 December 2003 as the third and final part of the early 2000s Christmas trilogy, and as the final episode of the entire series.-Synopsis:...
", Resulting in a very moving and emotional ending to the show.
Career
After being expelled from college, Del took it upon himself to give Rodney a job as an assistant market trader (or "Financial Advisor") and sidekick. He briefly served as Chairman of the Tenants Association. For 20 years from 1981, Rodney had worked in that pitiful position until the year 2001 when Del was banned from being the managing Director of any business by a court. When
Trotters Independent Traders was about to end, Del knew that Rodney wasn't banned from managing a firm and so after 20 years as a pitiful assistant market trader, Rodney finally stepped up as titular Managing Director of T.I.T.CO., which allowed Del to keep on running the company secretly.
For some time, Rodney worked as Financial Director of T.I.T.CO (a job which included such executive tasks as loading the van). Rodney has a strong
conscienceConscience is an ability or a faculty that distinguishes whether one's actions are right or wrong. It leads to feelings of remorse when a human does things that go against his/her moral values, and to feelings of rectitude or integrity when actions conform to moral values. It is also often viewed...
and is often morally outraged by Del's business activities, such as dealing in stolen goods. Despite his ethical objections, Rodney is usually enticed into Del's money making schemes by Del's persuasive charms and the
temptationA temptation is an act that looks appealing to an individual. It is usually used to describe acts with negative connotations and as such, tends to lead a person to regret such actions, for various reasons: legal, social, psychological , health, economic, etc...
of financial rewards.
Independence
One thing that Rodney wanted was his independence. He ran away in the first episode because he was tired of Del treating him like a kid.
Rodney went on the run for two days after Del Boy convinced him, as a joke, that he was known as "The Peckham Pouncer," when a mentally unstable, seemingly drunk woman accused him of attacking her when he had only helped her from falling over.
Middle Name
Rodney's middle name, "Charlton", was revealed to the world during his wedding in 1989. The registrar officiating wisely decided to leave it out and refer to him as simply "Rodney Trotter" when the guests from the Nag's Head could not contain their laughter. Rodney's mother gave him the name because she was a fan of
Charlton Athletic F.C.Charlton Athletic Football Club is a professional association football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich...