“Only Fools and Horses: The Musical” is a loving tribute to John Sullivan’s iconic sitcom but falls slightly short as a fully-fledged musical. While fans of the original series will find themselves transported back to 1989 Peckham with genuine affection and countless belly laughs, the musical elements often feel more like pleasant interludes than integral storytelling devices.

The production’s greatest triumph lies in its casting choices. All are strong, and Paul Whitehouse’s Grandad steals scenes. His affecting performance adds unexpected depth to the character.

The show is essentially a greatest hits compilation of the series’ most cherished moments, and it delivers them with precision. The infamous bar fall, the chandelier incident, and the Batman and Robin chase are all present and correct, staged with enough theatrical flair to survive the change in medium. The production team clearly understands both what made the original special and how to convey that on stage.

Working-class London life in 1989 is captured and portrayed with genuine warmth. The set design has the scale you’d expect of a successful musical, features rotating stages that transport audiences between the market, the Trotter flat, and the Nag’s Head.

The show’s greatest weakness lies in its songs. While the iconic theme tune works as brilliantly as ever, it is repeated too many times, and many of the original compositions feel awkwardly shoehorned into the action. They sometimes fail to bring the show forward and are not especially memorable. The plot suffers from a similar flaw, feeling more like a series of sketches than a unified story.

“Only Fools and Horses: The Musical” succeeds admirably at what it sets out to do – create a theatrical celebration of one of Britain’s most beloved sitcoms. As a musical, it falls short of greatness. But, for those who want a tribute to the original sitcom, it is lovely jubbly.