<P> Sullivan had a tendency to write scripts that were too long, meaning a lot of good material had to be cut . Shortly before filming of the sixth series began, he and Jason requested that the show's time slot be extended and it was agreed to extend its running time to 50 minutes . This required a 40 per cent increase in the show's budget, and coincided with the show becoming one of the BBC's most popular programmes, according to producer Gareth Gwenlan . Robin Stubbs became the costume designer for the sixth series, and was responsible for getting Del's attire to match his new yuppy image . His new suits cost around £ 200 each and were purchased from Austin Reed in Regent Street . The rest came from stores such as Tie - Rack and Dickins and Jones . His jewellery was replaced each series because it was very cheap (the rings with "D" cost 50p each). </P> <P> The seventh series aired in early 1991 . Jason and Sullivan were involved with other projects, and it was confirmed that there were no plans for a new series . Despite this, the show continued in Christmas specials until 1993 . Sullivan nonetheless wanted a final episode to tie up the show . In late 1996, three more one - hour episodes were filmed, to be broadcast over Christmas 1996 . All three were well received and, due to the ending, were assumed to be the last . The show made a return in Christmas 2001 with the first of three new episodes which were shot together but ultimately broadcast over three consecutive Christmases from 2001 to 2003 . Despite rumours of further episodes, in a 2008 interview, Sullivan was quoted as saying: "There will not be another series of Only Fools And Horses . I can say that . We had our day, it was wonderful but it is best to leave it now". Though Sullivan died in 2011, it returned for a special Sport Relief episode in 2014 . </P> <P> Only Fools and Horses has separate theme songs for the opening and closing credits, "Only Fools and Horses" and "Hooky Street", respectively . The original theme tune was produced by Ronnie Hazlehurst and recorded on 6 August 1981 at Lime Grove Studios . Alf Bigden, Paul Westwood, Don Hunt, John Dean, Judd Proctor, Eddie Mordue, and Rex Morris were hired to play the music . The tune was changed after the first series, and the new one was written by John Sullivan (he disliked the tune for the first series, and his new one explained the show's title), and Hazlehurst conducted it . It was recorded at Lime Grove on 11 May 1982, with musicians John Horler, Dave Richmond, Bigden, and Proctor . Sullivan wanted the band Chas & Dave singing, but this was not possible due to their single Ain't No Pleasing You being successful in the charts . Sullivan had intended for Chas & Dave to sing it because they had enjoyed success with the "Rockney" style, a mixture of rock n' roll and traditional Cockney music . Sullivan was persuaded to do it himself by Ray Butt . Despite the creation of a new theme tune, the original one remained in occasional use . Chas & Dave did later contribute to the show, performing the closing credits song for the 1989 episode "The Jolly Boys' Outing". Both songs are performed by Sullivan himself, and not--as is sometimes thought--by Nicholas Lyndhurst . </P> <P> The opening credits see images of the three principal actors peel on and off the screen sequentially . These appear over a background of still photographs of everyday life in South London . The sequence was conceived by graphic designer, Peter Clayton, as a "metaphor for the vagaries of the Trotters' lifestyle", whereby money was earned and quickly lost again . Clayton had also considered using five - pound notes having Del's face . The action was shot manually frame by frame, and took around six weeks to complete . Clayton knew that it was important to have the characters established in the titles, and prepared a storyboard depicting his ideas using drawings . He photographed various locations with a photographer, and the titles were shot using a rostrum camera and not edited . Brian Stephens, a professional animator, was hired to create the labels' movement . </P>

Who sang theme tune for only fools and horses