Mike Fisher Only Fools And Horses
Right, let’s talk about a man who made being a total plonker look like an Olympic sport. I’m talking, of course, about Mike Fisher, the perpetually unlucky actor behind the pe...
Right, let’s talk about a man who made being a total plonker look like an Olympic sport. I’m talking, of course, about Mike Fisher, the perpetually unlucky actor behind the perpetually unlucky character, Mike Fisher, on Only Fools and Horses. Yes, the show gave him his own name, which is either a lazy writer’s dream or a cosmic joke that Mike has been living for decades.
You remember him, right? The gangly, nervous fella who was always about as useful as a chocolate teapot in the Trotters’ world. While Del Boy was busy falling through bars and Rodney was moaning about his love life, Mike Fisher was just existing in a state of mild panic. Honestly, watching him was like watching a deer in headlights, but the deer is also trying to sell you a dodgy toaster.
The Man Who Drove Del Boy Up the Wall
Mike Fisher wasn’t just any background character; he was Del Boy’s personal punching bag in the profit-and-loss department. Think of him as the human equivalent of a flat tire on a getaway car. He’d turn up, looking all hopeful, and Del would immediately spot a way to make a quid, usually at Mike’s expense. Remember the episode where he bought a custom-made suit that made him look like a knocked-off penguin?
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And let’s not forget the blinking. If you watch closely, Mike Fisher blinks more times per second than a hummingbird’s wings. It wasn’t an acting choice; it was a survival instinct. Every time Del came near him with a “business proposition,” those eyelids went into hyperdrive. It’s a miracle he didn’t give himself a migraine just trying to process the scam.
The Surprising Truth: He Was a Double Act
Here’s a fact that’ll make you spill your tea: The actor Mike Fisher and the character Mike Fisher were played by two different people in the early days. I know, right? It’s like finding out Santa Claus is actually a team of stressed-out hamsters. The first Mike Fisher was a peace-loving hippie named David Janson, but he left after the first few series.
Only Fools and Horses castmates who have passed away: Patrick Murray
Then came the real Mike Fisher, played by the actual actor Kenneth MacDonald. And boy, did he commit to the bit. Kenneth made Mike Fisher so wonderfully pathetic that you almost felt sorry for him, right up until he tried to sell you a “genuine” Rolex that ticked backward. He turned a small part into a iconic symbol of financial failure.
Then, in a twist that would make M. Night Shyamalan jealous, Kenneth MacDonald also played another character named “Mike the Barman” in earlier episodes. So you had a guy playing a Mike who later became a different Mike, but the same actor. My brain hurts just thinking about it. It’s like the show’s version of the multiverse, only with more tartan suits.
Why We Love the Lovable Loser
What’s the secret to Mike Fisher’s enduring charm? It’s simple: we all know a Mike Fisher. He’s the mate who’s always a bit behind on rent, whose car makes a noise like a dying cat, and who somehow thinks that buying a crate of “slightly out-of-date” dog food is a wise investment. He’s the guy who makes the rest of us feel like financial geniuses by comparison.
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And let’s be honest, his fashion sense was a crime against textiles. That horrible brown leather jacket? The patterned jumpers that looked like they were knitted by a blind octopus? He dressed like a man who had given up on life, but only after losing a bet to a charity shop. Every time he showed up on screen, you’d instinctively check your own wardrobe in shame.
The Legacy of a Plonker
Only Fools and Horses was a masterclass in creating characters who are both ridiculous and deeply relatable. But Mike Fisher stands out because he’s the purest distillation of failure. He didn’t have grand schemes like Del, or feuds like Boycie. He just wanted a quiet life, a bit of profit, and maybe a pint without being conned. And the universe said, “No.”
Sadly, Kenneth MacDonald passed away in 2001, but his legacy lives on in every rerun. Next time you’re feeling like a bit of a plonker, remember Mike Fisher. He once tried to sell a blank video tape as a “mystery movie.” He’s the patron saint of bad business decisions. Here’s to you, Mike. You magnificent, blinking disaster. You made us all feel a little bit smarter.
