THOSE WE HAVE LOST: Rik Mayall (1958-2014)

REMEMBERING RIK MAYALL

ALTERNATIVE COMEDY SPAWNED MUCH IN THE 1980s-

clubs led to stage led to TV series led to

cartoons and puppet shows

One of the gifted writers of this seminal time

was Rik Mayall

His character of THE POET  was a seed for a future caricature 

as part of THE YOUNG ONES

whose demographics matched four generations of young Britons

This was the age of Thatcher /Spitting Image and absurd violent surreality

Falklands War and patriotic jingoism against squats and Beanfield Battles@Stonehenge

We watched all this long distance via

VHS and BBC repeats

Then BOTTOM ,

and his sendup of a Tory Lord  -

Voltaire would be proud!

It is 1984.The first Young Ones 1981.

Ben Elton holds the original pilot script

We hold Rik Mayall in esteem—for taking us to truth via wit.

Never forget his parting comments-

"Well-surely you do not expect a COMEDIAN to solve your problems?"

And we did.

                                     Thom the World Poet

‘There were times when Rik and I were writing together when we almost died laughing. They were some of the most carefree stupid days I ever had, and I feel privileged to have shared them with him. And now he’s died for real. Without me. Selfish bastard.’

                                   Adrian Edmondson