Hardman Vinnie Jones is swapping Tinseltown for Peckham this Christmas. The footballer-turned-Hollywood actor, 59, will make his stage debut as notorious gangster Danny Driscoll in Only Fools and Horses – The Musical. To announce his arrival, Vinnie dressed in a waistcoat and tie – and got to grips with Del Boy’s family jewels.
It was a cheeky nod to the former Wimbledon player grabbing Newcastle rival Paul Gascoigne’s groin during a top flight match in 1988. Vinnie is known for a series of tough guy roles in films including Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The stage show was adapted from the TV comedy by Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan, the son of original writer John.
Danny was played by Roy Marsden in the BBC show. Vinnie said: “I’ve always been a fan of Only Fools And Horses and when my longtime friend, [the promoter] Phil McIntyre said he was interested in me playing Danny Driscoll, I told him to count me in.” The cast also features Whitehouse as Grandad “Ted” Trotter, Sam Lupton as Del Boy and Tom Major as Rodney.
A UK and Ireland tour began in Bromley, South East London, yesterday. Vinnie joins in at Hammersmith Eventim Apollo from December 17 to January 5..