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Only Fools and Horses became a treasured comedy sitcom for BBC viewers and brought laughter and entertainment to households from 1981 to 2003.
By Lauren Williams
Only Fools and Horses: Daniel Peacock stars as Metal Mickey
Only Fools and Horses star Daniel Peacock has opened up about trading in his time on TV for a quieter life in his caravan. Daniel starred as Mental Mickey during one episode of the hit show back in 1985 and other shows such as Doctor Who, Birds of a Feather and One Foot in the Grave.
Daniel found his love of helping others when he got his first "real job" with the lifestyles team at the care home. He soon turned his TV lifestyle into a quieter one when he stepped away from the limelight for good.
It came after his father Trevor Peacock, most known for playing Jim Trott in The Vicar of Dibley, was battling dementia. Since then he has taken the role of caring to a new level and applied for his new role to push himself out of his comfort zone.
Three years ago Dan had just finished writing the second series of his UK TV comedy Marley’s Ghosts when he found himself at a loose end and so applied for a job out of his comfort zone.
Speaking about making the decision, he told MyLondon: "I bought a caravan in Kent as I thought I really wanted to get some solitude and I’ve always loved holiday parks.
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Daniel Peacock traded in TV for care homes and caravans (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon )
"So there I am in my caravan writing every now and then, enjoying no pressure and stress. I started watching TV programs I’ve never watched before in my life, not the greatest but they were on TV.
"Then my son Charlie said 'Dad you’re watching way too much television' and suggested I get a job.
"At that time, I thought 'I don’t even know how to do anything else', he found me a job at Hastings Court."
Dan is still working on projects for TV behind the scenes but has committed himself to enhancing the lives of the residents at the care home where he arranges activities.
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Daniel Peacock was inspired after his father was in a care home (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon )
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Trevor passed away in March 2021 after spending three years in a care home, which sparked a new passion for Dan and how he wanted to help others worlds away from the small screen.
He explained: “Because my dad had been in a residential home, tragically, with the most awful disease Alzheimers, it was the first time I came face to face with this terrible condition and I wasn’t overly impressed with the care home.
"So when I got here at Hastings Court, it was like a very impressive hotel. I started to inject some entertainment and conversation between the residents and bringing them all together.
"A lot of the residents have lived history, during and at the end of the war so you bond with people here. My dad died of that horrible disease but working here has made me a better person."
Only Fools and Horses Christmas documentary will air on Christmas Eve on Channel 5.
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