Latest news with #Bottom
Metro
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
11 years on, I'm still mourning comedy legend Rik Mayall
It's been almost exactly 11 years since the death of inimitable comedy genius Rik Mayall. 11 long years (if you read that in Richie's voice, you're my people). I'm not over it. In fact, over a decade on, I miss Rik's irreverent humour more than ever – but I'm so honoured to be a part of the inaugural Rik Mayall Comedy Festival this weekend. In interviews after his recovery from a near-fatal quad bike accident in April 1998, Rik Mayall revealed that his family had dubbed that day 'Crap Thursday'. The crash happened the day before Good Friday, and Rik had remained in a coma until Easter Monday. He often joked that he 'beat Jesus' by being dead five days before coming back to life. Well, June 9, 2014 was definitely 'S**t Monday'. S**tter than the s**ttiest of s**t-smeared s**tty s**t Mondays. I was travelling home from a hen-do and had no idea how bad my hangover was about to get. Upon reading that Rik Mayall had died of a sudden heart attack, I burst into tears and felt sorrow in a way I hadn't thought possible from a celebrity death. Such is my love of 'The Rik', texts started to ping in from friends reassuring that they were thinking about me. Of course, my thoughts were with Rik's friends and family; his wife Barbara and three children Rosie, Sid, and Bonnie. In the years since Rik died, I've lost my own beloved mum and dad – and, while I must not diminish the insurmountable devastation felt when your nearest and dearest are snatched from this earth, the pain of Rik's untimely death at age 56 deeply affected me. British comedy had lost an irreplaceable master of the craft. I've been a fan of Rik Mayall's work for as long as I can remember. Aged seven, Grim Tales was a series of adapted Brothers Grimm stories that Rik brought to life with such hysterical flair, my young mind was indelibly transformed. Soon, Drop Dead Fred became my favourite film with repeated viewings too numerous to count – it remains my go to comfort watch. Then Bottom exploded onto TV screens in 1991. Yes, aged eight, I was too young to be watching the show but you couldn't have stopped me and my older brother from tuning in to the live-action cartoon depicting Richie and Eddie's hilariously depraved existence. It was like nothing we had ever seen before, or since. Bottom formed my funny bone into the best possible shape with its stupendous slapstick, witty wordplay and naughty nob gags – it's comedy dynamite. To say I love it is an understatement. In the years since Rik died, I've been inspired to work in comedy and study Bottom quite a lot ('while I'm alone in the house'). I've waxed lyrical about why it's the best British sitcom, I co-host a podcast Talking Bottom and have even co-authored a Bottom book, due to be published by Unbound on July 3. Now, this weekend sees The Rik Mayall Comedy Festival launch for the first time in Droitwich Spa – Rik's hometown. This brand new comedy festival being named after the inimitable genius of Rik Mayall is a fitting way to honour the man who gifted the world so much laughter. I am beyond honoured to be a tiny part of the festival, as I'll be appearing at the Norbury Theatre with a live version of my podcast Talking Bottom – I'll have the pleasure of interviewing Bottom's incredibly talented Director and Producer, Ed Bye. I plan to see as many of the other comedy shows as possible while I'm there. Every smile on every face will be gathered there thanks to a love of Rik Mayall, and, of course, the hard work of the organisers. Rik Mayall is arguably (and fight you about it, I will) the finest comic actor of his generation. From his early days in the 1980s, forming one half of an iconic partnership with Adrian Edmondson in The Dangerous Brothers, Rik took the comedy world by storm. Following their anarchic live performances at The Comic Strip club, Rik co-created and starred in The Young Ones and changed the face of British comedy in its wake. Rik went on to steal the show in sitcoms including Filthy Rich & Catflap, The New Statesman, Blackadder, Believe Nothing and Man Down. In sharp contrast to the public persona Rik cultivated – an effervescently confident ego-maniac – at his core, he struck me as someone humble. Grateful to be sharing laughter. As far as I'm concerned, it's the most wonderful gift you can bestow on your fellow humans, and Rik dished it out in custardy pants-filled bucketloads. It's often said that you shouldn't meet your heroes but I had the honour of meeting Rik on several occasions (one of the many 'ordinaries' he nicknamed fans with mocking affection), and he never disappointed. Rik was generous with his time. He made you feel special, he'd embrace you in a life-affirming hug, if female fans offered him their breasts to sign (consent was never in question), he'd gladly oblige while flashing his trademark pervy grin. He'd fall to his knees pretending to give male fans fellatio – anything for the giggle, especially when there was a camera around. Some may interpret these exchanges as overtly exhibitionist, sexual, inappropriate… but that was the point. Rik's behaviour was so gleefully outrageous and welcomed in a way that's hard to explain to anyone who didn't encounter it first-hand. Rik possessed a unique warmth of character. An endlessly playful energy exuded from him – it was infectious. All-consuming. Awe-inspiring. Addictive. Fans still feel this connection, even without having met him, as it's present in his performances. We're all invited in on the joke of his faux grandiosity. It's glorious. On June 9, 2014, grief-stricken fans poured out their love via social media – tributes to Rik Mayall 'the man, the myth, the legend' were, quite rightly, everywhere. In the months that followed, a petition for a commemorative bench in Hammersmith, located near the spot from the iconic opening credits to Bottom, was actioned. I attended the bench unveiling in November 2014 and it was healing to share the loss with fellow fans. Humour helps heal the darkest of situations. It builds memories, forms bonds and connects you on a level that seeps deep into your bones. I shared many Rik inspired laughs with my parents over the years. When my mum was ill in bed in her final days fighting cancer, I remember walking through our front door and hearing her shout the classic Richie line 'I'm in the cupbooooard' from her bedroom. We shrieked with laughter, all thanks to Rik's comedy shared in years gone by. In the months after Mum died, I took my dad on a trip to Rik's bench in Hammersmith. While there, I promptly pretended to punch him in the nether regions. I've hundreds of photos with Dad, but it's an image I especially cherish now he's sadly gone, too. You rarely have a chance to take a picture so hilariously inappropriate with your own father. I have my parents and Rik to thank for my wicked sense of humour. Rik may no longer be here but his legacy endures. New generations of comedy fans are discovering his work and that gives me comfort. It gives me hope for the future. The Young Ones fans know there's solace to be taken from the fact Rik will never truly be dead when we still have his (poems) comedy. June 9 may be the anniversary of S**t Monday but it has become a date on which fans around the world will be sharing Rik clips, memes, happy memories of meeting the comedy legend, witty letters he sent, arrange to meet each other at the bench and raise a glass to toast his memory. More Trending As such, every year, I now find myself looking forward to seeing 'Rik Mayall' trending on socials. The sadness turns to joy. It's important to mark this milestone by celebrating Rik's humour – today and always. So no, I'm still not 'over' Rik's death, I never will be… I never want to be. The best way to honour The Rik Mayall is to share a laugh every chance we get. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: This new British movie is one of the funniest films I've ever seen MORE: BBC confirms huge Casualty news and it's the end of an era MORE: Interior Design Masters fans fume after favourite loses to 'ugly' design in shock finale
Press and Journal
11-05-2025
- Health
- Press and Journal
How an Aberdeen family is changing the odds of cystic fibrosis in daughter's memory
Chloe Baxter was fiercely independent and loved nothing more than a good joke and loud music. She had pink streaks in her hair, piercings in her lip and tongue and a talent for making people laugh — especially her dad, Tom. 'She had a wicked sense of humour,' says Tom, a former chemical engineer who lives in Aberdeen. 'And she was a big music fan. Everything from garage and grunge, Red Hot Chili Peppers and all that.' Chloe died in 2006, aged just 23 and weeks after landing a new job she was thrilled about. Battling cystic fibrosis since she was an infant, a chest infection took hold and, despite hospital treatment, she never recovered. 'At first we didn't expect the worst,' Tom says. 'But then I had that feeling — this was it.' Diagnosed at 18 months old, Chloe faced long odds from the start. 'She had a 75% chance of reaching 16,' Tom remembers. 'She didn't know there was anything wrong with her at first. Later, she understood it was serious — but she just got on with it.' Chloe studied English Literature at the University of Aberdeen and, despite repeated hospital stays, graduated with an upper second. She worked as a care worker for disadvantaged adults, often taking night shifts where she was the only one on duty. 'She was determined,' Tom says. 'She wanted her independence, she left home at 18 and shared a flat with a friend.' 'We had a normal family life,' Tom adds. 'We'd get the CF out the way and carry on. When she wasn't infected, we'd go to France on holiday and have a good time.' Chloe had just secured a new job preparing proposals at an engineering company — the same one where her mum, Grace, worked — when she became ill. 'She always wanted to do English at university,' Tom says. 'She had a really inspirational teacher who encouraged her.' Like many with CF, Chloe faced complications. At 16, she developed diabetes. 'She was painfully thin,' Tom recalls. 'But once we got the diabetes under control, she put on some weight and had a lot more energy.' There were joyful times too. 'We watched a lot of comedy — Bottom, The Young Ones, Monty Python — and laughed a lot.' Ten years after Chloe's death, Tom and Grace set up a research fund in her memory at the University of Aberdeen. 'We had enough money to fund something for three years,' Tom explains. 'We chose to support research into how fungal infections interact with bacterial ones in CF.' The project, called Chloe's Fund, struck a chord because Chloe had struggled with infections that wouldn't clear. The research is now on its third PhD student and has led to several academic papers. 'Each time, there have been significant findings,' Tom says. 'It gives us a lot of pleasure.' The fund was created with the help of Chloe's CF consultant and Kairen Griffiths, a CF nurse at ARI whom Chloe was very close to. Kairen has even written a book on CF titled 65 Roses — the term young children often use when trying to say 'cystic fibrosis' — that includes Chloe. 'There's a chapter in the book based on Chloe,' Tom says. 'They don't use her name, but it's her story.' Since Chloe passed away, there has been enormous progress in CF treatment. Drugs like Kaftrio, which target the root genetic cause of the disease, have dramatically increased life expectancy. Tom says Chloe probably would have benefitted from the new genetic drugs, but he and Grace tend not to think about the what-ifs and maybes. 'It would torture you,' he says. Meanwhile, they are delighted for the families that do benefit from it. 'There's no bitterness,' he says. 'We think it is fantastic.' Kaftrio won't help everyone with CF — it depends on their genetic strain — but for those who can take it, the impact is dramatic. 'We used to be told CF couldn't be cured — that we could only treat the symptoms,' Tom says. 'Now, they've developed treatments that address the underlying cause.' The odds in a CF patient's favour have improved significantly; instead of a 75% chance of making it to 16, it's now a 75% chance of reaching 60. 'That's phenomenal,' Tom says. Chloe's presence is still very much felt in the Baxter family. Her younger sister, Gemma, now 38, has two young children. One has Chloe as a middle name. They still talk about her, and she still surprises them. When a film crew from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust came to hear their story recently, 'Gemma said a few things about her sister we'd never heard before,' Tom says. Meanwhile, Tom and Grace still find comfort in remembering the good times. 'We can often talk about the laughs we had,' Tom says. 'It's made me a better person. You re-evaluate what's important.' What would Chloe make of the fund and the work being done in her name? 'She'd love it. She'd be the poster girl.' And for families living with CF today? 'Enjoy the new freedom you've got,' Tom says. 'And be forever thankful to medical science.' Tom and Grace are working with the Cystic Fibrosis Trust to help raise money and awareness for Chloe's Fund at Aberdeen University. To help Cystic Fibrosis Trust fund more important work, click here.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Smithville woman arrested for child porn after 4-month investigation
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A woman from Smithville, Missouri has been arrested for possession of child pornography, according to the Clay County Sheriff's Office. Police say a four-month-long investigation led to the arrest of 44-year-old Melissa Bottom yesterday, April 24. Bottom is now being charged with two counts of possession of child pornography. ICE detains mother at citizenship appointment in Kansas City, family says The sheriff's office conducted a search warrant yesterday following an internet crimes tip from December 2024. Investigators worked through several legal processes over the following months, leading to the arrest and charges, the sheriff's office says. The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program includes 5,400 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Clay County Sheriff's Office. The Clay County Sheriff's Office says that Bottom is being held on a $25,000 bond and that more charges may come forward as evidence from Bottom's residence continues to be analyzed. They also encourage anyone with information about online sexual abuse of children to contact the cyber tipline at 1-800-THE-LOST. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Droitwich Spa: Rik Mayall mural unveiled in hometown
A mural dedicated to comedy legend Rik Mayall has been unveiled in the town where he grew up. The special piece of artwork has been created in an empty shop unit on Droitwich Spa's High Street and will help promote the town's first Rik Mayall Comedy Festival. Artist Milan Illustrator said it depicts Mayall as the king of comedy and features "five famous outfits from Rik's very famous characters".The community-run festival is taking place from 31 May to 7 June. Tickets for the headliners, who will play the Norbury Theatre, go on sale next month. Greg Davies, Peter Richardson, Shaparak Khorsandi and Helen Lederer have all been confirmed for the event. Mayall was one of the UK's most loved and best known performers when he died in 2014, aged 56. A pioneer of the 1980s alternative comedy scene, his work included The Young Ones, Blackadder and Bottom. Illustrator, an artist from Birmingham, told BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester he was familiar with Droitwich Spa and had included local references such as its radio mast. He added that one scene in the mural featured a sign for Droitwich Spa and Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall on their famous Bottom bench. He said his favourite part of his mural was the playing card depicting Mayall as the King of Comedy. Illustrator added he was "proud" to have worked on the design to honour the comedian and had spent hours working on it over the Christmas holidays. The artwork attracted a crowd when it was unveiled in the town on Monday. One shopper told the BBC it was "full of fun" and she loved it. "It's just what we need as well, something different," she said. And another passer-by said he liked the way it brightened up the street. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
