 According to a recent Jason biography Enn Reitel (qv) was  originally considered for the role of Del but was unavailable owing  to his commitment to a Yorkshire TV series. Jim Broadbent (qv) was  then offered Del Boy but was performing a play in the West End and  had to decline though, after David Jason won the role, Broadbent was  later cast as DCI Roy "the slag" Slater.