Only Fools and Horses

Del purchases a guide intended to teach him how to make better choices in his life and business. However, the advice proves counter‑productive, and the Trotters’ finances slump to an all‑time low as a result, worsening their monetary situation significantly.

Modern Men is a television programme presented as an episode within its series. Classified under the genre of an episode, the show follows the typical format of a scripted instalment, offering viewers a self‑contained story. As part of the broader Modern Men lineup, this particular episode focuses on a single narrative thread centred on one of the main characters. The episode is structured to deliver a clear narrative arc within its limited runtime, focusing on a single storyline without diverging into side plots. In this instalment, the character Del decides to purchase a new self‑help manual that promises guidance on making positive choices. He hopes the book will steer him towards better decisions in his personal and professional life. The guide advertises step‑by‑step techniques for turning around personal fortunes, but the Trotters' accounts reflect the opposite trend, sinking further rather than rising. However, rather than delivering the anticipated improvements, the manual’s influence coincides with a sharp decline in the Trotters’ financial situation, pushing their money into an unprecedented low. The outcome of Del’s purchase is limited to the financial realm, as the manual fails to produce the positive changes it advertises. Instead, the Trotters find themselves grappling with the lowest point in their monetary affairs to date. This episode therefore centres on the irony of a well‑intentioned self‑improvement effort backfiring in a very tangible way, underscoring the gap between intention and result and highlighting how a seemingly helpful resource can inadvertently exacerbate existing problems.