Maturity and success

David Jason has spent his life building quite a career for himself as top comedian. He spent the first decades of his life performing in a number of roles that got him recognized throughout the industry as a comedic performer to watch. In radio and television, Jason made his mark with a special knack for timing that perfectly balanced the usually dry, deadpan wit of others in British comedy at that time.

After his early successes in a number of variety shows and other comedic television programs, Jason took on a role that would make him a household name: Del Boy. The show was 'Only Fools and Horses' and in the company of other great British actors, Jason became an overweight south Loudon fence of stolen goods. As Del Boy, Jason made his mark on British pop culture. Slang still batted about today can trace their lineage back to Jason's character. Words like 'plonker' and 'lovely jubbly' are still in the mouths of the British and can be attributed to Jason.

Perhaps because he made such a strong showing in the arena of comedy, touching radio, television, the theatre and even film with his mastery of timing and wit, Jason moved onto try his hand at more dramatic roles. The show 'Porterhouse Blue' enjoyed Jason's expertise when he played the part of Skullion. In this satire on college life at Cambridge University, Jason's Skullion was conservative, a villain of sorts, determined to combat the new head master's attempts to liberalize the school's policies.

'Porterhouse Blues' was quickly followed by Jason's showing as Pa Larkin in 'The Darling Buds of May,' as Detective Jack Frost in 'A Touch of Frost,' and then in the recent two part drama 'Ghostboat' was sponsored by ITV. 'The Darling Buds of May' was an incredible, popular success, a series based upon the stories of H.E. Bates. But perhaps even more impressive was Jason in the role of Detective Frost, a man who enjoys the finer things as a respite from a life fraught with difficulties and trauma, while being overtly honest and none to cheery while doing his job.

Never forgetting his call to comedy, at the opposite end of the spectrum, the world of cartoons and other children's television programs also enjoyed the talents of David Jason. While working for Cosgrove Hall, Jason performed the voices for many of their productions and advertisements, speaking the roles of countless characters including Count Duckula, Dangermouse, and The Wind in the Willows' Toad.

"Jason was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, and later, in December of 2005, Jason was knighted by the Queen herself..."

On a personal level, David Jason has had his share of drama, not unlike some of the issues faced by Jason's Detective Jack Frost. After years of sharing his life with Myfanwy Talog, he nursed her through a long bout with breast cancer which ultimately ended in her death in 1995. A decade later, he married Gill Hinchcliffe, putting a legal stamp on the family the two of them started when their daughter was born in 2001.

Though these past few years have marked a wild popularity and productivity for David Jason, this is hardly the end of the road. In fact, Jason was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, and later, in December of 2005, Jason was knighted by the Queen herself, included among the list of honourees chosen for Her Majesty's birthday, an experience he describes as humbling. Jason never stops working, never stops racking up the accolades and continues to make a name for himself as one of Britain's top men in comedy every day.