You know those rare moments of TV comedy that leave you weak with laughter, tears running down your face? Through my life I reckon Rik Mayall was responsible for more of those than anyone else.
There’s a moment in one of the live Bottom shows, where an audience member can’t stop himself laughing over a mistake Rik had made. Rik paused mid scene, turned on him, and in true style lambasted him for a good five minutes to the tone of “…do I come to your work and point and laugh at your every mistake, you utter wan…” I was literally falling over with laughter, only he could have made it so funny.
Lloyd said Mayall was a “consummate professional” who secretly devised his own costume for Lord Flashheart without telling the rest of the cast.
“He came on set with this ludicrous blonde wig with seashells in it, and a moustache, and the most ridiculous costume that he had managed to concoct without anyone knowing.
The episode of Bottom with the Miss World competition is probably my favourite comedy of all time. Was also watching Blackadder Goes Forth last week and laughing histerically at Captain Flasheart. A rare talent that will be missed.
If any Mancunians are interested, the Young Ones was based on a household of wayward students in Landcross Road, Fallowfield, where R and A, messrs Elton and Meyer et al used to go for recreational breaks from their academic pursuits. The guy who Neil was based on had a sponsored haircut for the miners in 1984 and raised £500! (his hair was LONG)The Vivian character came to my 40th and, true to form, disgraced himself.
Just thought it’s worth mentioning that if you haven’t already read it, his autobiography ‘bigger than hitler, better than christ’ is definitely worth a read. It’s exactly what you would expect a Rik Mayall autobiography to be.