Gary’s hair was a national treasure. That slicked-back, Brylcreemed helmet of ambition. It looked like a dead ferret glued to his head.
John Challis wore a toupee for the role. Yes, a piece. He’d glue it on every morning. One time it flew off during a scene. The director kept it in the cut. Pure magic.
People still argue: was Gary’s hair real? No. Was it brilliant? Absolutely. It had more personality than some of the guest stars.
The Cars He “Sold”
Gary’s greatest hits were his dodgy car deals. Remember the three-wheeled Robin Reliant? He sold Del Boy a lemon. Literally a broken heap of junk.
The joke was that Gary’s cars always had “one careful owner.” That owner was usually a raccoon. Or a ghost.
John Challis once admitted he couldn’t drive a three-wheeler for real. So they just wobbled the camera. It looked like a crash waiting to happen. Perfection.
