grandad n : the father of your father or mother [syn: grandfather, gramps, granddad, granddaddy, grandpa]

English

Noun

grandad

1. misspelling of granddad

}Edward Kitchener Trotter (b. July 9 1909 in Peckham Rye, London - d. 1985, Peckham, London) better known simply as Grandad, was a character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses from 1981-1984. He was played by Lennard Pearce.

The character was Grandfather to Derek and Rodney Trotter. Del described his grandfather as "an out of work lamp-lighter waiting for gas to make a comeback" that was about as useful as "a pair of sunglasses on a bloke with one ear". Grandad has also been a security officer at a warehouse in Chingford during the war. However, despite the fact that Grandad is largely infirm and useless, the Trotters' sense of family loyalty means that he would never be left without a home. He is, however, often treated with a level of light-hearted abuse by Del and Rodney when his docile nature becomes an inconvenience causing deperation. For example, in one episode, Grandad takes a phone call for Del; Del informs him to tell whoever is on the other end that he has gone out. Grandad informs the caller of this, but then looks rather confused; he mutters "Hold on, I'll just ask." before shouting "Del! Where've you gone to?" He is a terrible cook, he'll often walk into the front room and wail miserably "Del Boy, I've burnt yer bacon!" Del also played an April Fool on Grandad, telling him that the pools had called to say that he'd won half a million pounds. Grandad went to Soho and celebrated then realised that he didn't do the pools. Grandad's favourite television shows are Crossroads and The Dukes of Hazzard, as revealed in "Homesick" and "May The Force Be With You". He also owns an allotment, as mentioned in "The Russians Are Coming", as well as seen in "Mother Nature's Son".

However, despite his senility and simplicity, Grandad was more crafty than he let on - wangling himself a bungalow by feigning illness being one of his many talents as seen in "Homesick", and in "Who's a Pretty Boy?", Grandad conned Delboy out of £5, informing him the Canary he purchased from the pet shop cost him £50, when in reality cost him £45. Del Boy finds out at the end of the episode, and replied "£45 Pounds?", Grandad replies, "What did I say?"

Given the task of minding the Trotter flat from the comfort of his much loved armchair, Grandad had an easy life. However his formative years were less sedate as he made money during the Spanish Civil War at gun running. Grandad was also responsible for the spectacular (and noisy) failure of Del's chandelier cleaning business.

When Lennard Pearce died in 1984, writer John Sullivan chose not to replace him but to write the character's death into the series. A funeral was held for Grandad in a moving episode, which saw the Trotter brothers trying to come to terms with the loss of a man who had been such an integral part of their lives. However, such was the nature of the show that amongst the sadness were moments of brilliant comedy. At the funeral, Del sees what he thinks is Grandad's favourite hat, takes it back to the grave and throws it in. However, the audience later discover that the hat belonged to the priest. As Del and Rodney walk away from the grave, the workers begin to fill in the grave; Del turns to them and menacingly says "Oi! Gently." This episode also introduced Grandad's younger brother Albert. It is also known that apart from Albert, Grandad had two more brothers: George Trotter, whom he mentioned in the episode: "The Russians Are Coming"; and an unnamed brother, presumably the father of Del and Rodney's cousin Stan (Stan referred to George by his first name, making it impossible for Stan to be George's son).