Trigger (Only Fools and Horses)
Encyclopedia
Trigger is a character in the popular BBC
sitcom Only Fools and Horses
. He is played by actor Roger Lloyd Pack
.
A regular at the Nags Head pub, and old friend of Del Boy
, Trigger is a road sweeper, and also appears to dabble in trading and petty thefts (though this status as a small-time thief is soon phased out of the character's development). He once supplied Del with paint which Del proceeded to use to decorate his mother's grave. Only then did Trigger inform him that the paint was used on signs in railway tunnels and therefore, luminous. He also supplies a load of stolen cigarettes, and in the opening episode he announces to Del that "he popped round to his sisters to sort out an alibi for next Thursday." Trigger has appeared on Only Fools and Horses since the very first episode and carried on appearing in almost every episode until the final episode, Sleepless in Peckham.
Trigger is possibly most famous because he calls Rodney Trotter
"Dave", even though everybody else calls him Rodney. Rodney discusses this with Trigger in "Homesick", and he agrees to stop, but a few seconds later he calls him it again. When Cassandra Trotter
, Rodney's wife, announced she was pregnant in "Modern Men
", everybody raised a toast and said "To Cassandra and Rodney", but Trigger can be heard saying "Cassandra and Dave" after everyone else has spoken. At another point, while discussing Del and Raquel's son, Trigger claims that they may name the baby "Rodney after Dave". These instances imply that he knows Rodney's real name, but deliberately calls him "Dave" to tease him or mere force of habit.
He can miss the point of the silliest joke, such as in "Fatal Extraction
", when Del jokes with Boycie, Mike, Rodney and Trigger, saying that woman ask men something then correct them, and everyone says "Why ask" together, and Trigger waits until they're finished and says "Why ask?" very stupidly.
In the pilot episode Rodney
asked Del where Trigger got his nickname, thinking Trigger was an armed criminal (i.e. a trigger man). Del however replies that it's because 'he looks like an 'orse', this is a reference to the famous screen horse, Trigger
, of the 50s and 60s, as Del says to Trig later on "You know what happened to the real Trigger don't you? Roy Rogers
had 'im stuffed!".
It was revealed in Class of '62, that Trigger used to have a crush on Julie Christie
, after he tells Boycie, Del, Rodney, Denzil and Slater that he loved her in a famous movie.
Trigger speaks in a fairly slow, monotone voice, but he is loyal, friendly and kind. However, Trigger's most noticeable trait is that he is stupid beyond belief, which is a source of much humour in the show, despite his remaining deadly serious in his delivery. Del has often commented on Trigger's painfully low intelligence; "You could tell the state our school was in; Trigger was head boy
." Another example is in one episode, Del had relationship problems with Raquel and a very bad tooth. Whilst talking about the problems with Raquel, Trigger confused the subjects, advising him to just "get shot of it," and proceeding to say, "I know what it's like, you give 'em pet names, I've done it, but take my advice, go to the dentist and have it taken out."
Trigger did not know his father and in all seriousness says "he died a couple of years before I was born" when Rodney asks of his whereabouts in the episode "Ashes to Ashes
". He was brought up by his grandparents, with his grandfather having also been a roadsweeper. Trigger is unsurprisingly not married, although he occasionally mentions past relationships during the series and is seen on a blind date with a woman in the 1988 Christmas special, Dates.
In the episode Heroes and Villains
, Trigger wins an award for owning the same broom for 20 years. He reveals that it has had 17 new heads and 14 new handles, but insists it is still the same broom. This has given rise to the expression "Trigger's broom" (more properly known as the Ship of Theseus
paradox). For example : "Sugababes
are the Trigger's broom of pop music", indicating that none of the original line-up remain in the group.
On several occasions, however, despite his general stupidity, Trigger has displayed some moments of cleverness, given his smart remarks and rather intelligent way of explaining the situation of his pregnant niece in the episode The Frog's Legacy.
Trigger is an example of a breakout character
in that he quickly attained a high level of popularity with the show's audience, despite his status as a minor, supporting character.
Trigger appears as a teenager in the Only Fools and Horses prequel series, Rock & Chips, where he is portrayed as equally daft as in the main series. As shown in "Sleepless in Peckham", he accompanies Del, his gang, his family and Freddie the Frog on the first Jolly Boys' Outing in 1960. Trigger is a relatively minor character in the prequel series, giving a daft remark every now and again, but he receives a rather notable mention in "The Frog and the Pussycat" when Violet Trotter, Del's grandmother, mentions Grandad's affair with Trigger's grandmother, Alice Ball (marking the first time in the history of the Only Fools and Horses franchise that Trigger's real name is mentioned). At one point in the pilot episode, Reg asks Del and Jumbo if Trigger is mentally OK, since he once spotted Trigger laughing at a television set which was turned off.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
sitcom Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses is a British sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1991, with sporadic Christmas specials until 2003...
. He is played by actor Roger Lloyd Pack
Roger Lloyd Pack
Roger Lloyd-Pack is an English actor known for his roles in the TV shows The Vicar of Dibley, Only Fools and Horses and The Old Guys.-Career:...
.
A regular at the Nags Head pub, and old friend of Del Boy
Del Boy
Derek Edward Trotter, better known as "Del Boy", is the fictional lead character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses and one of the main characters of its prequel, Rock & Chips...
, Trigger is a road sweeper, and also appears to dabble in trading and petty thefts (though this status as a small-time thief is soon phased out of the character's development). He once supplied Del with paint which Del proceeded to use to decorate his mother's grave. Only then did Trigger inform him that the paint was used on signs in railway tunnels and therefore, luminous. He also supplies a load of stolen cigarettes, and in the opening episode he announces to Del that "he popped round to his sisters to sort out an alibi for next Thursday." Trigger has appeared on Only Fools and Horses since the very first episode and carried on appearing in almost every episode until the final episode, Sleepless in Peckham.
Trigger is possibly most famous because he calls Rodney Trotter
Rodney Trotter
Rodney Charlton Trotter is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst.-Personality:Rodney's personality was based on the experiences of series creator John Sullivan, who also had an older sibling and, like Rodney, claimed to have been a dreamer and...
"Dave", even though everybody else calls him Rodney. Rodney discusses this with Trigger in "Homesick", and he agrees to stop, but a few seconds later he calls him it again. When Cassandra Trotter
Cassandra Trotter
Cassandra Louise Trotter is a fictional character from the British sitcom Only Fools and Horses. She was portrayed by Gwyneth Strong.-Biography:...
, Rodney's wife, announced she was pregnant in "Modern Men
Modern Men
Modern Men is an American situation comedy television series which premiered March 17, 2006, on The WB. The series stars Eric Lively, Josh Braaten, and Max Greenfield as three single men, and lifelong friends, who hire a life coach to help them with their love lives...
", everybody raised a toast and said "To Cassandra and Rodney", but Trigger can be heard saying "Cassandra and Dave" after everyone else has spoken. At another point, while discussing Del and Raquel's son, Trigger claims that they may name the baby "Rodney after Dave". These instances imply that he knows Rodney's real name, but deliberately calls him "Dave" to tease him or mere force of habit.
He can miss the point of the silliest joke, such as in "Fatal Extraction
Fatal Extraction
"Fatal Extraction" is the twelfth Christmas special episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 25 December 1993.-Synopsis:...
", when Del jokes with Boycie, Mike, Rodney and Trigger, saying that woman ask men something then correct them, and everyone says "Why ask" together, and Trigger waits until they're finished and says "Why ask?" very stupidly.
In the pilot episode Rodney
Rodney Trotter
Rodney Charlton Trotter is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst.-Personality:Rodney's personality was based on the experiences of series creator John Sullivan, who also had an older sibling and, like Rodney, claimed to have been a dreamer and...
asked Del where Trigger got his nickname, thinking Trigger was an armed criminal (i.e. a trigger man). Del however replies that it's because 'he looks like an 'orse', this is a reference to the famous screen horse, Trigger
Trigger (horse)
Trigger was a palomino horse, made famous in American Western films with his owner/rider, cowboy star Roy Rogers.-Pedigree:...
, of the 50s and 60s, as Del says to Trig later on "You know what happened to the real Trigger don't you? Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
had 'im stuffed!".
It was revealed in Class of '62, that Trigger used to have a crush on Julie Christie
Julie Christie
Julie Frances Christie is a British actress. Born in British India to English parents, at the age of six Christie moved to England, where she attended boarding school....
, after he tells Boycie, Del, Rodney, Denzil and Slater that he loved her in a famous movie.
Trigger speaks in a fairly slow, monotone voice, but he is loyal, friendly and kind. However, Trigger's most noticeable trait is that he is stupid beyond belief, which is a source of much humour in the show, despite his remaining deadly serious in his delivery. Del has often commented on Trigger's painfully low intelligence; "You could tell the state our school was in; Trigger was head boy
Head boy
Head Boy and Head Girl are terms commonly used in the British education system, and in private schools throughout the Commonwealth.-United Kingdom:...
." Another example is in one episode, Del had relationship problems with Raquel and a very bad tooth. Whilst talking about the problems with Raquel, Trigger confused the subjects, advising him to just "get shot of it," and proceeding to say, "I know what it's like, you give 'em pet names, I've done it, but take my advice, go to the dentist and have it taken out."
Trigger did not know his father and in all seriousness says "he died a couple of years before I was born" when Rodney asks of his whereabouts in the episode "Ashes to Ashes
Ashes to Ashes (Only Fools and Horses)
"Ashes to Ashes" is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the second episode of Series 2, and was first screened on 28 October, 1982...
". He was brought up by his grandparents, with his grandfather having also been a roadsweeper. Trigger is unsurprisingly not married, although he occasionally mentions past relationships during the series and is seen on a blind date with a woman in the 1988 Christmas special, Dates.
In the episode Heroes and Villains
Heroes and Villains (Only Fools and Horses)
"Heroes and Villains" is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 25 December, 1996 as the first part of the 1996 Christmas trilogy...
, Trigger wins an award for owning the same broom for 20 years. He reveals that it has had 17 new heads and 14 new handles, but insists it is still the same broom. This has given rise to the expression "Trigger's broom" (more properly known as the Ship of Theseus
Ship of Theseus
The Ship of Theseus, also known as Theseus' paradox, or various variants, notably grandfather's axe and Trigger's Broom is a paradox that raises the question of whether an object which has had all its component parts replaced remains fundamentally the same object.The paradox is most notably...
paradox). For example : "Sugababes
Sugababes
The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London...
are the Trigger's broom of pop music", indicating that none of the original line-up remain in the group.
On several occasions, however, despite his general stupidity, Trigger has displayed some moments of cleverness, given his smart remarks and rather intelligent way of explaining the situation of his pregnant niece in the episode The Frog's Legacy.
Trigger is an example of a breakout character
Breakout character
A breakout character is a fictional character in different episodes, books or other media that becomes the most popular, talked about, and imitated. Most often a breakout character in a television series captures the audience's imagination and helps to popularize the show, sometimes inadvertently...
in that he quickly attained a high level of popularity with the show's audience, despite his status as a minor, supporting character.
Trigger appears as a teenager in the Only Fools and Horses prequel series, Rock & Chips, where he is portrayed as equally daft as in the main series. As shown in "Sleepless in Peckham", he accompanies Del, his gang, his family and Freddie the Frog on the first Jolly Boys' Outing in 1960. Trigger is a relatively minor character in the prequel series, giving a daft remark every now and again, but he receives a rather notable mention in "The Frog and the Pussycat" when Violet Trotter, Del's grandmother, mentions Grandad's affair with Trigger's grandmother, Alice Ball (marking the first time in the history of the Only Fools and Horses franchise that Trigger's real name is mentioned). At one point in the pilot episode, Reg asks Del and Jumbo if Trigger is mentally OK, since he once spotted Trigger laughing at a television set which was turned off.