Here’s where I have to give a little shout-out to Glyn Houston, who played the original “Man in the Street” before being replaced. He’s a bit of a trivia footnote, but his presence in early drafts was a reminder of how different the episode could have been. The cast we got was just tighter.
I always wondered if the actors felt the pressure. Imagine David Jason, at the peak of his fame, trying to sell a joke about a sunstroke in a foreign country. But the cast’s chemistry was so solid that even a weak gag felt like inside joke. They trusted each other.
One of my favourite side notes: Roy Heather as Sid the barman didn’t go to Miami, but his ghost was felt. In the episode, they mention him, and it’s a tiny nod that reminds you the old world still exists. It’s the little things that make a universe feel real.
Only Fools and Horses: Miami Twice (1991) | MUBI
Why It Works (Despite the Sun)
Let’s be honest: “Miami Twice” is not the best episode of Only Fools. It’s a bit over the top, and the pacing wobbles. But the cast made it something special. They took the familiar and stretched it without breaking it.
Think about John Challis as Boycie. He only had a small part, but his laugh in the Miami heat felt like a victory. And Sue Nicholls as Marlene? Her deer-in-headlights look was a perfect mirror to the audience’s confusion.
I think the real star was the casting director. Finding actors who could mimic the Trotter energy while bringing their own flavor was a gamble. They nailed it. The show could have been a cringe-fest, but instead, it’s a fond memory.
