Tony Angelino’s performance is undoubtedly one of the funniest scenes from the Only Fools and Horses franchise.
Aired in 1991, the episode Stage Fright saw musician Tony, who was known as ‘The Singing Dustman’, form a double act with Del Boy Trotter’s girlfriend Raquel Turner (Tessa Peake-Jones).
Naturally, the new music group was created by wheeler-dealer Del Boy (David Jason) who saw an opportunity to make some quick cash after signing them up to perform at The Starlight Rooms.
Tony, who is a friend of Trigger’s (Roger Lloyd Pack), wore a curly black wig and orange fake tan as he styled himself as a young Tom Jones.
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He also seemed to have a good singing voice too, when he sang some songs!
Unfortunately the singer has a rhotacism which means Tony pronounces his R’s as W’s, so although it belted out a version of the Roy Orbison hit Crying it sounded more like ‘Cwying’.
As the disastrous performance kicks off, Raquel starts singing the song in a very angelic voice as she looks meaningfully in the audience, leaving Del Boy and Rodney quite impressed.
“She’s bloody good isn’t she Rodney” says Del.
Tony then appears from behind the curtain wearing a pair of huge sunglasses and hilariously sings “cwwwyyinnnggggg” in a very loud voice, leaving the audience in despair.
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Del Boy stormed out of the club and Raquel was fuming when she returned to Nelson Mandela House and admitted she continued the performance singing hits including “Congwatulations” and a medley of “wock and woll”!
The Tony Angelino scene from the sitcom has gone down in history as one of the funniest Only Fools and Hoses moments.
Actor and composer Philip Pope played the role of Tony Angelino 30 years ago and has remained in showbiz ever since.
He even reunited with Only Fools and Horses costar Gwyneth Strong, who played Cassandra Trotter, and Andree Bernard, who played barmaid Nervous Nerys in two episodes, at a London pop-up pub celebrating 40 years of the sitcom.
Prior to starring in the BBC sitcom, Pope made guest appearances in Blackadder, Who Dares Win and Round the Bend, along with appearing in the BBC radio comedy series Radio Active (1980–87).
However, Pope’s talents do not end there as he, along with Richard Curtis, wrote songs for the fictional pop group The Hee Bee Gee Bees which parodied famous music groups.
He has also composed and written the main themes for a number of much loved British shows including Round the Bend, My Hero, Outnumbered and Whose Line Is It Anyway?, plus many many more.
Pope also has a huge list of acting credits for both film and movies under his belt.
He most recently starred as Sigmund Murphy in Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes (2019), Winter Smallcock in Benidorm (2019) and The Life of Rock with Brian Pern (2014-2017).
Those with children will recognize the TV star as Moody Margaret’s Dad in Horrid Henry: The Movie and comedy fans will know Pope as Mr. Farthingwell / Frankie in Outnumbered and in various roles in The Fast Show, along with numerous other television appearances.
Only Fools and Horses fans will forever know Pope as our beloved singing dustman!
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