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A Night In With Sally Lindsay

Spirit Studios

Tessa Peake-Jones: Only Fools and Horses, Bipolar & a Life Changing Letter

Apr 7, 202642 min
Summary

In this episode of A Night In With Sally Lindsay, actress Tessa Peake-Jones sits down for an intimate and wide-ranging conversation about her life, her career, and the fascinating, complex relationship she shared with her mother. Peake-Jones reflects on the unique upbringing she had being raised by her mother and godmother, describing them as strong, independent women who defied gender norms of the era. This childhood environment, coupled with the early influence of seeing strong women represented on television in shows like Coronation Street, helped shape her perspective on life and her acting career. A highlight of the discussion is the revelation of her mother’s extraordinary influence on her professional path. Peake-Jones shares a surprising anecdote about how her mother anonymously wrote to BBC producers to promote her daughter's talent while she was still at drama school, effectively launching her career. The conversation also explores her time on the iconic comedy Only Fools and Horses, her experiences working with legends like Sir David Jason, and her eventual role in the hit series Grantchester. Peake-Jones opens up about the emotional experience of caring for her mother during her later years, when her mother’s dementia would occasionally lead her to relive moments from her daughter’s acting career.

Updated Jul 1, 2026

About This Episode

This week on A Night In with Sally Lindsay, Sally is joined by Tessa Peake-Jones, best known as Raquel in Only Fools and Horses, for a funny, heartfelt and deeply revealing interview.


Tessa shares behind-the-scenes stories from her time on Only Fools and Horses, one of the UK’s most iconic sitcoms, including working alongside David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, and reflects on the moments that shaped her career. She'll also open up about filming the last ever series of Grantchester, and the end of her starring role as Mrs Chapman.


During a cosy night on the sofa, she opens up about her extraordinary upbringing, her mum’s bipolar disorder and dementia and the powerful influence she had on her life. She also reveals the remarkable story of the letter that helped launch her career, secretly written by her mum to BBC producers.


Expect warmth, honesty and humour as Tessa looks back on missed opportunities, career-defining roles and the unexpected twists that shaped her journey.


New episodes drop every Wednesday on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts - plus you can watch each episode on YouTube!


Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ANightinwithSallyLindsay

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Tessa Peake-Jones stars in Invisible Me at Southwark Playhouse from April 8 to May 2.


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