The Stage

Jason to quit Frost after 15 years

Published Wednesday 28 February 2007 at 12:25 by Liz Thomas

David Jason is set to quit popular ITV cop drama A Touch Of Frost after 15 years, saying that he had only so much time in a year to work.

Actor Jason, who has been a national favourite for more than 30 years, hinted that he was going to hang up his coat as cantankerous detective inspector Jack Frost.

He made the comments at a screening for his new role as cheeky conman Des Parker in the network’s new series Diamond Geezer, which is a follow-on from a successful pilot in 2005.

Jason was coy when asked about the future for Frost, saying: “That’s a difficult question. Can I play a policeman one week and a villain the next? Will the audience believe me? I only have so much time in a year to work as well.

“I’m always reluctant to leave a character, especially ones that have given me so much pleasure, and Frost definitely has. I had the same feeling with Pa Larkin and Derek Trotter, it’s hard to let go. I hope this new character Des can fill the gap for me.”

Jason, who is now a familiar face on ITV after years working at the BBC on iconic series Open All Hours and Only Fools and Horses, joked that he could be, perhaps, persuaded to another series of Frost if ITV offered him a helicopter and was open to bribes.