A Touch of Glass
| "A Touch of Glass" | |
|---|---|
| Only Fools and Horses episode | |
 |
|
| Episode no. |
Series 2 Episode 7 |
| Directed by | Ray Butt |
| Written by | John Sullivan |
| Produced by | Ray Butt |
| Editing by | Mike Jackson |
| Original air date | 2 December 1982 (10.2 million viewers) |
| Running time | 27:57 (DVD/iTunes) |
"A Touch of Glass" is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 2 December 1982 as the final episode of series 2. It was the first episode of the show to attract over 10 million viewers.
In the episode, the Trotters are hired to clean some priceless chandeliers in a country mansion. The scene when they accidentally smash one of the chandeliers came second in a Gold poll to find the best Only Fools and Horses moment.
During a trip to Yeovil to buy a consignment of musical china cats which play the song "How much is that doggie in the window?", Del Boy, Rodney and Grandad stop to assist a woman whose car has broken down. The woman turns out to be a member of the , Lady Ridgemere. They tow her home and are grudgingly invited in by the snobbish Lord Ridgemere.
The Trotters quickly outstay their welcome at the mansion. Whilst there, Del overhears Lord Ridgemere haggling with someone on the telephone about the cost of cleaning their two priceless Louis XIV chandeliers. Sensing opportunity, Del tricks the Lord into believing that chandeliers are the Trotters' family business and agrees to carry out the necessary work at a knock-down price.
The Trotters return to the mansion a week later to clean the chandeliers, though the Lord and Lady are away on holiday. Grandad goes upstairs to unscrew the holding bolt for one of the chandeliers while Del and Rodney climb up on step ladders with a blanket ready to catch it. However, unbeknown to Del and Rodney (and the audience), Grandad is actually loosening the bolt for the adjacent chandelier. He knocks the bolt out, and as Del and Rodney are ready to catch their chandelier, the second chandelier plummets to the ground and smashes to pieces. After verifying with the butler that they never gave any of their contact details to the Ridgemeres, the Trotters run away as fast as they can and escape from the mansion in their van (although by law, the chandeliers will be covered by home insurance).
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