Iconic BBC comedy starring Only Fools And Horses legend 'poised to return' after a decade off screens
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A much-loved BBC comedy starring an Only Fools and Horses legend is 'poised to return' - after a decade off screens.
Goodnight Sweetheart aired on BBC One between 1993 and 1999, starring Nicholas Lyndhurst as accidental time traveller Gary Sparrow.
Using a time portal, Gary leads a double life with two women: his wife Yvonne in 1990s London and barmaid Phoebe in 1940s London as World War II rages.
The show returned for a one-off special back in 2016, titled Many Happy Returns, as part of the BBC's Landmark Sitcom Season, attracting almost five million viewers.
Now, co-creators Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran revealed they would bring back the show for another one-off special to wrap up the story - if they got the right offer.
Laurence told The Sun: 'If we were asked by the BBC 'would you do a one-off' and we rang Nic and the girls, they would probably say yes.
Iconic BBC sitcom Goodnight Sweetheart is 'poised to return' - a decade after last being on screen
The premise follows accidental time traveller Gary Sparrow (Nicholas Lyndhurst), who lives a double life in the 1990s and 1940s
'But they'd want to know that they're playing the ages they are. We would only do it if we had our cast.'
Maurice added: 'If anyone on TV suddenly found a few million quid they want to find a home for then we could make it.'
As it happens, the writers already have the material for another special as they have written the final episode of the show as a novel.
Due for release in May, Goodnight Sweetheart: Many Happy Returns picks up just before the events of the 2016 special, which was set in the spring of 1962, when Marilyn Monroe sang at President Kennedy's birthday party.
This, however, has ramifications for Gary as when he first met his wartime sweetheart Phoebe, he told her the girl he left behind in Los Angeles was called Marilyn Monroe.
Aside from Goodnight Sweetheart, Laurence and Maurice have also worked on The New Statesman, Birds of a Feather as well as comedy drama series Love Hurts.
Maurice previously revealed it was the BBC's decision to commission the Goodnight Sweetheart special to celebrate 60 years of comedy that inspired him and co-creator Laurence to come up with new ideas for the characters.
He said: 'In 2016 we were asked to revive it. The BBC were doing a number of tributes to classic comedy.
'We found a way to bring him back again, which I thought was quite fun and it was a good show, it was a well received show.
However, Nicholas is perhaps best known for playing Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses (pictured with co-star Sir David Jason, who played Del Boy)
'Unfortunately the BBC decided they didn't want to do a series of it which was extremely annoying, because we had the whole cast and they were really up for it, Nick was up for it.
'It was great and it made us think that maybe we'll do something in another medium because we had a lot of good ideas for it.'
Away from Goodnight Sweetheart, lead actor Nicholas, 64, is best known for the role of Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses.
He also played Rodney's father - criminal Freddie 'The Frog' Robdal - in prequel series Rock and Chips between 2010 and 2011.
Last month, Nicholas' on-screen wife Gwyneth Strong revealed she is working on a new TV show that would reunite her with former co-star and close pal Tessa Peake-Jones.
Gwyneth, 66, played Rodney's wife Cassandra from 1989, while Tessa starred as Del Boy's partner Raquel from 1988.
She revealed the pair are still 'really close' and often spend time together, with their long term friendship serving as inspiration for the unknown show.
She told The Sun: 'At the moment, I'm writing a television proposal for her and me, so I'll wake up refreshed from my nap and work on that,'
'I can't say much about it yet, but the show has elements of experiences Tessa and I have had throughout our very long friendship.'
