Del Boy never marries. He has had many girlfriends, a fact that is the subject of numerous sarcastic comments by Rodney. He finally meets his partner Raquel Turner (whom he calls his "significant other") in the 1988 special "Dates". Del's mother Joan dies on 12 March 1964, apparently after a long string of illnesses. His lazy father Reginald leaves three months later (on Del's 16th birthday), taking most of their money and even Del's birthday cake. This leaves the teenage Del as the family's sole breadwinner, looking after his grandfather and Rodney, his half-brother who was born around thirteen years after him
Sleeping Dogs Lie (Only Fools and Horses) Sleeping Dogs Lie (Only Fools and Horses) "Sleeping Dogs Lie" is an episode of the BBC sitcom, "Only Fools and Horses". It was the fifth episode of series 4 and first broadcast on 21 March 1985. In the episode, Del Boy and Rodney babysit Boycie and Marlene's cherished Great Dane, Duke. As Albert watches an old horror movie and Rodney bemoans the lack of jobs in London, Del Boy has found another opportunity to be a millionaire by babysitting Boycie and Marlene's dog, Duke. The Trotter brothers arrive at Boycie's house and meet Duke, a large Great Dane who eats