An Only Fools and Horses cast member was in a long-term relationship with their on-screen son from the BBC sitcom. Tessa Peake-Jones, who played Raquel Turner, first appeared in 1988 and became a regular character after initially being introduced as a guest star.

Raquel married Del Boy and gave birth to his son, Damien Trotter, portrayed by various actors over the years. One of them was Tessa’s then-partner Douglas Hodge, who played an adult Damien in a dream sequence in 1996.

As reported by the Mirror, the memorable scene from the episode, Heroes and Villains, sees Damien delving into politics whilst also ruling over Trotters Independent Traders. Douglas, who has since appeared in shows like Black Mirror and films such as Joker, was in a long-term relationship with his on-screen mother Tessa when he joined the cast.

According to the Express, they were together for over 25 years before separating just over a decade ago and have two children together.

Tessa Peake-Jones and Douglas Hodge, formerly an off-screen couple, reportedly began their romance in 1984 before appearing on the classic sitcom Only Fools and Horses. The duo ended their relationship in 2012 after almost three decades together, reports the Mirror.

Del Boy, who lived in the block in the sitcom, with his long-term girlfriend, Raquel (Image: Getty Images)

In a statement released in 2013 confirming their split, their spokesperson stated: “I’m able to confirm that Tessa and Douglas separated in the autumn of last year by mutual and amicable agreement and they will continue to raise their two children jointly.”

While Douglas had a one-off appearance in the 1996 special episode of Only Fools and Horses, Tessa—also known for roles in Grantchester and Holby City—remained a fixture on the show. She appeared in two additional specials in 1996, including the iconic Time on Our Hands.

Tessa reprised her role as Raquel in the early 2000s revival specials, with her final performance in the series coming in Sleepless in Peckham, which concluded the series that started on BBC in 1981. The last episode delivered a windfall to the Trotter siblings, revealing a £145,000 legacy each from Uncle Albert, who had invested the previously discovered Trotter fortune wisely.

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