Let’s talk about the mustard thing, because it’s genius. Slater eats the stuff by the spoonful. It’s not a quirk—it’s a warning. He’s so bitter and twisted that only a burning, yellow paste can satisfy his soul. Can you imagine being at a dinner party with him? “Pass the beef, Roy? Oh, you’ve already drowned it in Colman’s. Lovely.”
His whole persona is a performance. Slater acts like he’s everyone’s mate, but his eyes are always scheming. He’s the kind of man who’d sell you a fake Rolex and then report you for handling stolen goods. Del might be a chancer, but Slater? He’s a vicious chancer with a badge.
Rodney can’t stand him—and that says a lot, because Rodney can’t stand most things. But with Slater, it’s personal. He once blackmailed Del over a stolen camcorder and nearly sent him to prison. Honestly, if Slater had been a regular, the Trotters would have been bankrupt by episode three.
The “Only Fools” Hall of Fame Performance
Jim Broadbent didn’t just play a villain. He became this oily, cocky git who makes your skin crawl. His best moment? When he reveals he’s not a police officer anymore—he’s a car salesman. Of course he is. The man fell from bent copper to bent car dealer like it was a natural promotion. And he still has that mustard.
Only Fools and Horses Season 7 Episode 4
You’ve got to hand it to the writers, too. They made Slater a perfect foil for Del. Del is all “this time next year, we’ll be millionaires.” Slater is more “this time next week, you’ll be in the slammer.” One dreams big; the other dreams of your downfall. It’s almost poetic, in a greasy, South London way.
And let’s not forget his laugh. That little, nasal chuckle he does when he’s got one over on someone. It’s the sound of a man who enjoys his own evil. You half expect him to twirl a mustache, but he’s too busy dipping chips in mustard.
