'EastEnders' is too dreary, says Sir David Jason

Sir David Jason has claimed that EastEnders needs 'cheering up'.

The Only Fools and Horses star suggested the soap introduces someone like Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter, as the real East End of London isn't as "dreary" as the soap depicts.

"I'd like to do something on there to cheer it up," he told the Sunday Mirror. "In times of recession lives are a bit dreary so they don't want EastEnders where they keep slitting each other's throats.

"What intrigues me is that there are funny people in the real East End. It's ­famous for it.

"There'd be blokes ­dressing up as women as a lark, but EastEnders seems blind to the fact that they enjoy a laugh. There should be a cheery chappy on there."

Jason added that he has bought his 10-year-old daughter Sophie the Only Fools and Horses boxset and plans to show it to her over Christmas.

"I don't really like watching myself as I get haunted by the bits I have done wrong, but to be honest it feels like I'm watching a different person when I see Del Boy now," he said.