Sir David Jason autobiography announced

A publisher has acquired world rights to the autobiography of Sir David Jason.

After nearly 50 years in television, Jason will now tell the inside story of how the youngest son of a Billingsgate market porter went on to become one of the most beloved actors of modern times.

Sir David Jason says: “I’m delighted to have found a publisher who shares my ambition for my autobiography. Random House have shown true enthusiasm for this project from day one and I can’t wait to work with Ben and his team. Over the past 50 years I have had the fortunate experience of working with some of the finest actors and writers in the world. This book will be an opportunity for me to share the journey through my life and career with the people who have been most generous with their support and kindness – the great British public.”

Born in 1940, and after a short stint as a trainee electrician, Jason started his television career with his first major role in ATV groundbreaking soap Crossroads – Britain’s first daily half-hour serial (pictured inset top). In 1967 he performed alongside Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin in the television sketch comedy series Do Not Adjust Your Set. Jason also appeared in a variety of shows in support of stars such as Dick Emery, before his performances caught the attention of Ronnie Barker, who soon became a mentor to Jason.

In 1973 he starred opposite Barker in the classic comedy, Open All Hours. Jason also featured in the legendary BBC sitcom Porridge, again alongside Ronnie Barker. He returned to ATV for the comedy A Sharp Intake of Breath before in 1981 being offered his most enduring and popular role, Derek ‘Del-Boy’ Trotter in Only Fools and Horses, created by the late, great John Sullivan, a series that ran between 1981 and 2003. In the late 1980s and early 90s he worked between the BBC and ITV with programmes for the latter including Yorkshire TV drama The Darling Buds of May and comedy A Bit of a Do. Jason returned to Yorkshire TV to star as Detective Inspector Jack Frost in A Touch of Frost (pictured inset bottom) a drama a role that would continue for 16 years.

Ben Dunn says: “Like so many millions of Brits, I grew up watching and listening, laughing and crying to David’s on-screen genius; from Del Boy to Dangermouse to Detective Inspector Jack Frost his cannon of work is unsurpassed and I am truly honoured to be publishing a memoir that I have no doubt will be as golden as everything else he’s touched.”

David Jason was awarded an OBE in 1993 and a knighthood in 2005, both for services to drama. Century will publish in hardback in Autumn 2014 with an Arrow paperback the following year.

The deal was struck between Ben Dunn, Publishing Director of Century and Nick Canham and Meg Poole at The Richard Stone Partnership. Century is an imprint of The Random House Group in the UK.