The Russians Are Coming

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For the saying, see The Russians are coming.

For the film, see The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming.


Only Fools and Horses episode
"The Russians Are Coming"
Series	1
Writer	John Sullivan
Director	Martin Shardlow
Producer	Ray Butt
Duration	30 minutes
Airdate	13 October 1981
Audience	8.8 million

"The Russians Are Coming" is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was first screened on 13 October 1981, as the final episode of series 1.

1 Synopsis
2 Episode cast
3 Quotes
4 Story arc
5 Episode concept
6 Errors
7 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Del Boy purchases a pile of bricks and discovers several boxes of lead underneath, Rodney discovers (in some old paperwork found with the lead) that the lead is for a do it yourself nuclear fallout shelter. The episode was first screened whilst the real-life Soviet war in Afghanistan was ongoing, and Rodney persuades Del that, with a potential World War III looming, they should build the shelter rather than sell it. Del agrees to test out the shelter over the weekend.

Several potential locations for the shelter, including Grandad's allotment and Grandad's own idea of a spot in the New Forest, prove unworkable as the trio are unable to beat the four minute warning (due to a run in with the police).

The remainder of the episode is set in the shelter, where the discussion turns to war and the potential aftermath of the impending one. Del suggests that the present generation of British youngsters have been denied their birthright of a war, which sparks a tirade by Grandad, who gives a passionate "war is hell" speech. The episode ends with Del Boy dreaming aloud of what could become of the world in the event of nuclear fallout, while the camera zooms out to reveal the location of the Trotters' fallout shelter; at the top of their tower block, Nelson Mandela House.

[edit] Episode cast

Actor	Role
David Jason	Del Boy
Nicholas Lyndhurst	Rodney
Lennard Pearce	Grandad
Derek Newark	Eric (police officer)
Kelly Garfield	Wayne (police officer)

[edit] Quotes

(Del and Rodney are in the flat, discussing the British response to a World War III).

Rodney: And what have we got in this country to combat the might of the Soviet Union? Three Jump Jets and a strongly worded letter to the Russian ambassador.

(Del and Rodney have just been stopped by a police officer during their attempt to beat the four minute warning to get to Grandads' allotment. The police officer has just walked off).

Del: How are we doing for time Rodney?

Rodney: (looking at his watch) Erm, we died 45 seconds ago.

[edit] Story arc

During his "war is hell" speech, Grandad mentions his brother, George, who would also be mentioned in "Strained Relations" as being Del's assumed godfather.
Grandad's allotment is not only mentioned in this episode, but it appears in "Mother Nature's Son", which would contradict what Grandad said about never having a garden in "Homesick" (though he may have said this to gain sympathy).

[edit] Episode concept

The idea for the script was based on a true article John Sullivan was reading about, which involved a group of people who did as the script suggested: purchase lead and end up with an air-raid shelter.[1]

[edit] Errors

The Trotter van's registration number is APL 911 H in both this episode and "A Touch of Glass", whereas in "Modern Men", the van's registration number was DHV 938 D.