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Only Fools and Horses actor Lennard Pearce met Adolf Hitler, regretted not shooting Nazi leader

'I would have drawn the pistol from one of the bodyguards and I’d have done my best to kill him'

Jack Shepherd
Monday 02 October 2017 12:03 BST
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Nicholas Lyndhurst has revealed a fascinating anecdote from fellow Only Fools And Horses actor Lennard Pearce concerning Adolf Hitler.

Pearce — who played Granddad on the show — apparently met the German leader of the Nazi party while touring Europe during the 1930s and shook his hand.

Years later, the actor spoke to colleagues about how he regretted the not shooting Hitler there and then.

“He was a young actor touring Europe and they were playing some German city and the Nazis walked in,” Lyndhurst said.

“The top honchos of the Nazi party had seen the play and came to congratulate them ­afterwards. Lennard shook hands with Adolf Hitler.

“He only ever told me once, but he said, ‘Had I known then what I know now, I would have drawn the pistol from one of the bodyguards and I’d have done my best to kill him.’”

Lennard played Granddad on the BBC sitcom for four series before dying aged 69. Recently, a previously unaired episode of the show was discovered, featuring the actor’s final appearance.

Lyndhurst revelled the anecdote on The Story of Only Fools And Horses which will air tomorrow on Dave.

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