Jim Broadbent says he’s more famous for Only Fools and Horses than for winning an Oscar

Veteran actor Jim Broadbent says he’s better known for his role as DCI Slater in Only Fools and Horses than for winning an Academy Award for his role in 2001’s Iris.

Jim Broadbent says he’s gotten more recognition for his three episodes of Just Fools and Horses than for his Oscar win.

Movie star who played DCI Roy Slater on the BBC sitcoms in 1983, 1985 and 1991.

But he won an Oscar for Iris in 2001 and starred in dozens of films including Harry Potter, Bridget Jones’s Diary and Paddington.

Jim, 72, said: “I was only in for three episodes – never let it go.

“The other day I saw a class reunion, Class Reunion, and it was happening and I was hovering over the sofa.

“And then I sat down and watched it through. It is extraordinary. It is not a computer number now. It was like ‘oooh’, it was 30 years ago.

“But by far, that’s the most recognition I’ve received on the street is for Fools Only.”

Jim, who co-stars with Helen Mirren in the new movie The Duke, said he’s not surprised by Only Fools’ popularity.

He told the Gaby Roslin podcast: “It was really quality writing and performance. The characters are well drawn. They fit this humorous structure very well.

“You care about them and you laugh with them, and with them, and that’s the very special thing that John Sullivan did, pull it together.”