HEREFORDSHIRE actor John Challis will not be starring in the sketch show of classic sitcom Only Fools and Horses, his wife has said.

The Sun reported on Saturday that John, who lives in Wigmore, was expected to play loveable car dealer Boycie one more time as part of a BBC Sport Relief special in March.

The show, the Sun said, would feature Del Boy, played by David Jason, celebrating his 65th birthday - an idea worked on by the sitcom's creator John Sullivan before his death in 2011.

However, John's wife Carol this week told the Hereford Times that the show will only star Del and Nicholas Lyndhurst as his brother Rodney and not any of the other popular characters.

"John Sullivan's sons Jim and Danny finished the script, but it will only be a five-minute sketch and will just star Del Boy and Rodney," said Carol.

"None of us have heard anything about there being a full episode, but Jim and Danny will definitely not be writing any more scripts - they said that they won't be up to their dad's standard."

Seven series of Only Fools and Horses were aired from 1981 to 2003 - as well as a string of Christmas specials.

Its 1996 festive treat Time on our Hands attracted a television audience of 24.3 million - a record for a British sitcom that still stands today.