At the heart of every entrepreneur, there's always a Del Boy...

I recently had the good fortune to work with UKTV Gold on their new series The Story of Only Fools and Horses, and it was fantastic to reminisce about such a TV staple of mine and all the Paphitis family. It also made me think about just how much the ‘Del Boy’ effect has had on UK businesses and how it has influenced how we think about inspiration, taking risks and the British entrepreneurial spirit.

Since the first time Del Boy, Trigger, Rodney, Grandad, Uncle Albert, Marlene, Boysie and a whole raft of other wonderful characters graced TV screens, the business world hasn’t really been the same, whether it realised it or not. Everyone knows the phrase ‘this time next year Rodney, we’ll be millionaires’, and there isn’t a British entrepreneur alive who doesn’t have a touch of the ‘he who dares wins’ about them, or quite likely has been heard saying one or both of those phrases at some point in their lives. 

We all know someone like a Trigger, Boycie or Uncle Albert wanting to tell you about ‘during the war’, but it is Del who I see most in entrepreneurs. He is a fascinating character who has so many different sides to him, as written so brilliantly by John Sullivan. Del Boy is one of the best TV characters that has ever graced British screens, and I truly believe that there is a bit of Del Boy in all of us. He has a heart of gold and despite the failure upon failure of his numerous dodgy deals and aspirations to make a quick profit, his ambition is what resonates in our entrepreneurs today and over the years. He wants to do better, and even though his cutting corners approach is unorthodox, his ambition and pursuit of the dream can only be admired. Chris Tarrant even once commented to me that I was a bit like Del Boy, and I’ll take that. 

Entrepreneurs work tirelessly, constantly have ideas (some of which will work, and many that won’t), always spot an opportunity and constantly chase the dream….and that is Del Boy right there. I see many people describe themselves as a Del Boy, or a Del Girl, and that’s fantastic. It means they have the passion of Del in trying to start their businesses and make their lives better, on their own terms. I see this a lot in my #SBS winners, who have all started a business, whether as a side line, or gone out on their own with something they believe in and want to do well from. Being a Del is all part of trying to be successful when you take that brave leap into being your own boss, and other peoples’ boss.   He is the optimistic, have-a-go-Joe in all start-ups. Nothing is a problem and everything has a solution, and that’s why everyone loves Del Boy. He is the unstoppable entrepreneurial force that looks on the bright side and makes things happen. What’s not to love about that?

Despite Del’s unpaid tax, his dodgy marketplace dealings and lack of the endgame strategy, I would have 100% invested in Del when I was in Dragons’ Den, as for me it was always about the person and a half good idea – much better that than an average person with a great idea. Now, I would have loved to see that episode of Only Fools…. “Del in the Den” and see just how he charmed us into investment and what his business model would have been. Perhaps it could have been his run on Trigger’s favourite brooms…the ones that had had four new heads and two new handles.  You know it makes sense, Rodney.