Strained Relations Strained Relations "Strained Relations" is an episode of the BBC sitcom, "Only Fools and Horses". It was the second episode of series 4, and was first screened on 28 February 1985. It is a day full of sorrow for Del Boy and Rodney, as their Grandad has died. They have attended Grandad's funeral, along with Mike, Boycie, Trigger, and the North London branch of the Trotter family. Back at the wake in Nelson Mandela House, Rodney is extremely upset to find that Del is cheering himself up by telling his mates lots of jokes. Del and Rodney also meet Grandad's
Del Boy Boy at 15, before Rodney has been born. This is confirmed when the teacher complains about the boys having to stay at school for another year because of a change in the law. (The school leaving age in the UK was raised to 16 in 1972.) This, however, is inconsistent with "Big Brother" (Series 1, 1981), when Del states that he is 13 years older than Rodney. If this were so, Del should have been 12 or 13 in "Rock & Chips". The 2015 novel "He Who Dares..." confirms that Del was born on 10 December 1945. Del Boy works