ONLY ONE episode of Fools and Horses was branded “so dark” that it was banned from rebroadcast.

The program featuring the comedic antics of Derek “Del Boy” Trotter and his brother Rodney quickly became a national treasure as viewers eagerly awaited the couple’s escapades in their quest to become millionaires.

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But in one episode, Del Boy failed to get any laughs because he seemed like an “uncontrollable bully.”

It was so offensive that part of it never saw the light of day and bosses demanded the episode be taken off the air.

John Sullivan – the creator of the series – decided to remove part of the episode titled A Royal Flush, in which Del Boy’s usually affable character turned mean, saying “This is not a good episode.”

The legendary sitcom Only Fools and Horses aired from 1981 to 2003 on the BBC, but it still remains a UK Gold staple.

A Royal Flush was his fifth Christmas special and first aired in 1986, but Del Boy appears far from cheerful in the episode.

In it, Del Boy and Rodney (played by Nicholas Lyndhurst) visited the Berkshire home of Lady Victoria, the Queen’s first cousin.

Rodney’s develops a friendship with the Duke’s daughter, and Del Boy then tries to make a good impression with the aristocrats, but ends up offending the guests by getting drunk.

He humiliates Rodney by revealing his conviction for cannabis and telling risky jokes, before insinuating that the couple are getting married so Rodney can become a millionaire.

But in the original edit of the episode, Del Boy goes even further and during a trip to the opera, he threatens an audience member by saying: “I’m going to go down there and punch you in the eye .”

Then at a dinner, Del Boy becomes increasingly drunk and begins to cruelly make fun of Rodney in front of the group.

Television producer Richard Latto said: “The original where Del Boy is quite cruel to Rodney… It’s a tough watch.”

Editor Chris Wadsworth revealed during a Channel 5 documentary, Secrets and Scandals of Only Fools and Horses, that A Royal Flush was a “cruel and dark episode”.

The Christmas episode aired, but the offensive scenes were removed after failing to impress live audiences.

A shorter re-edited version had to be made with a canned laugh track added.

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Watch Only Fools and Horses on UK Gold.