S Poddar
Favourite actor *Only Fools and Horses’ Star David Jason has been telling it straight and calling some Hollywood stars “extremely difficult” to work with. David Jason is known for his down-to-earth charm, and he didn’t shy away from speaking candidly about the Hollywood big shots during his candid conversation. But then again, he also had time to share some reflections about his friend, the late and great comedy legend Ronnie Barker, as well as the very touching gesture that Barker made in regards to him that still means so much to him to this day.
Today, at 84, David is an institution of British television and claims much of his career success is down to Ronnie Barker. Their first meeting was in 1969, and they quickly became a famous double act in shows such as Porridge, Seven of One and, above all, Open All Hours. Through the years, their working relationship developed into close personal friendship which David treasures today.
When The Chris Moyles Show had Barker as a guest, he spoke about the times they were together, saying Ronnie was the mentor and one of his bestest friends. “He was the kindest man you ever met,” David said warmly. David continues: “I knew Barker was known for being kind to his time, mainly to the people close to him but to anyone working on set.”. All of these are qualities that David clearly admired, helping cement Barker as an ideal role model for him.
One memory that David found very touching was a special gift Ronnie gave him at retirement. David remembered when he would call Ronnie “The Governor,” using that term as a way of giving deep respect to someone at the top in comedy acting. It was a lovely expression of friendship when Ronnie retired preparing for David a most impressive certificate written in the finest traditional handwriting, awarding David the office of being “The Governor” to which Ronnie ostentatiously relinquished all his rights. “It’s all done here, here by Sir Ronnie Barker, here with under following messages will give to his honourable friend, Sir David Jason, the title of The Governor I shall now relinquish,” the certificate read.
He confessed that the framed certificate now takes pride of place in his home, displayed in his downstairs toilet—perhaps a typically modest, yet affectionate nod to his friend’s sense of humor. This gesture from Barker, David said, had been typical of the kind of person he was: generous, thoughtful, and supportively endless.
Not all of David’s reflections on the industry were quite so sunny, however. Indeed, talking to him, he did not flinch from identifying some of the frustration barriers within Hollywood, some of which he said were very far removed from the Ronnie Barkers in his life. He describes some of the big names as “extremely difficult and a pain,” and expressed his distress at the lack of teamwork and cooperation from some stars. He went on to add that most of these leaders usually do not realize that a project only succeeds if all the people working there work as one.
David particularly pointed out how different this attitude was from that that Ronnie emulated. He appraised Ronnie for always being quick to realize that for a show to be successful, it was not only the lead actors who needed to hold it together but the whole team. “He knew that the only way you can get a successful show is to incorporate and encourage the team that you have,” David said. Ronnie’s approach of treating everybody with respect-from crew workers to fellow co-stars-really made an impression on David as he keeps up with that same generosity in his work.
Looking back into their times, it’s quite obvious that Ronnie Barker was a very important part of not only David’s professional life but also his personal life. Being able to recall much of success, David gives good guidance and support he got from his dear friend with whom the bonding still remains priceless to him. Even in such a frustrating world filled with difficult personalities, David finds comfort and inspiration in the memory of someone who represented the very best of the entertainment industry.
In a world where big egos and difficult attitudes often seem to dominate the conversation around Hollywood, David Jason’s tribute to Ronnie Barker brings home to the reader the power of kindness and humility. For David, Ronnie wasn’t just a comedy legend; he was “The Governor” in every sense of the word.
