Only Fools and Horses star John Challis says Peckham has become so posh that ordinary people cannot afford to live there.
The actor, 78, said many properties in the area have been “tarted up” and put on the market at “extraordinary prices”.
John, who played snobby car dealer Boycie, bemoaned what he called the “so-called gentrification” of the South East London neighbourhood where the sitcom was set.
He called for new laws to stop ordinary people being priced out of previously affordable areas.
Packed with trendy bars, the district has changed dramatically since the BBC show began in 1981. It ran until 2003.
John said: “We started off filming in Peckham and it wasn’t particularly pretty.
“I’ve been back a couple of times to open things or make a personal appearance and there was a lot more buzz.
“As is happening to a lot of London, so-called gentrification is going on, people tarting up buildings and trying to sell them for extraordinary prices nobody can afford.
“I think that’s happening all over the place, unfortunately.”
John, who lived near Peckham as a child, told The Big Issue: “Presumably you have to stop it with legislation and say ‘no, you can’t put those rents up, there must be affordable housing’.”
After an influx of more affluent families, the typical house price in the district has shot up to £485,000.
Only Fools writer John Sullivan’s version of working class Peckham – mostly filmed in West London and Bristol – included huge grey tower blocks such as the one where Del Boy Trotter lived.
In a bid to sound posher, Del tried to use French words and phrases, but always got things wrong – saying “mange tout” for “my pleasure”, and “creme de la menthe” for “the very best”.
