<P> Rock & Chips is a British television comedy - drama and a prequel to the sitcom Only Fools and Horses . Set in 1960s Peckham, it focuses primarily on the lives of Del Trotter, Freddie Robdal and Joan and Reg Trotter . Nicholas Lyndhurst, who played Rodney in Only Fools and Horses, plays Robdal alongside James Buckley (Del Boy), Kellie Bright (Joan), Shaun Dingwall (Reg) and Phil Daniels (Grandad). The Shazam Productions and BBC co-production was written by Only Fools and Horses creator John Sullivan, directed by Dewi Humphreys and produced by Gareth Gwenlan . </P> <P> The 90 minute production was conceived in 1997 and commissioned in 2003, with the premise established in the final episode of Only Fools and Horses in 2003 . It was shelved and Only Fools and Horses spin - off The Green Green Grass was developed; its success led to the prequel being recommissioned in July 2009 . Filming began in October in London and the production was first broadcast on BBC One and BBC HD on 24 January 2010 . It was the second most watched programme of the day but gained mixed reviews from critics . </P> <P> The story starts in February 1960, by setting up the characters . Joan Trotter (Kellie Bright) is in an unhappy marriage with the work - shy Reg (Shaun Dingwall), whose father Ted (Phil Daniels) has just moved in . Her 15 - year - old son Derek, often shortened to Del Boy, (James Buckley) and his friends Boycie, Trigger, Jumbo Mills and new - in - town Denzil (Stephen Lloyd, Lewis Osborne, Lee Long and Ashley Gerlach) are still in school, following an increase in the school leaving age . Joan works at the local cinema with Trigger's aunt Reenie Turpin (Emma Cooke) and Raymond (Billy Seymour) for cinema manager Ernie Rayner (Robert Daws), and at the Town Hall as "a part - time filing clerk who sometimes makes the tea". Convicted thief Freddie Robdal (Nicholas Lyndhurst) has just been released from Dartmoor Prison and returned to Peckham with explosives expert Gerald "Jelly" Kelly (Paul Putner). </P> <P> At the Town Hall, Joan asks Mr Johnson (Colin Prockter) about applying for a flat in the new high - rise estate; she is told she is unlikely to get a tenancy, as preference will be given to those with young children . At the Nag's Head, Freddie and Reg meet, and Reg invites him to his house to continue drinking . After meeting Joan and buying her a drink, Freddie realises that she is a Trotter, a family he has a dislike for . After they return to the Trotters' house, Freddie shows his affection for Joan . </P>

Inbetweeners star who plays del boy in rock and chips