Latest news with #RikMayallComedyFestival
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
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Accountancy firm joins line-up of partners for inaugural Rik Mayall Comedy Festival
A LEADING Worcestershire accountancy firm has pledged its support for the inaugural Rik Mayall Comedy Festival. Ormerod Rutter, one of the county's largest employers with 240 staff, has joined Nicol & Co as a community partner for the festival, which will run from Saturday, May 31 to Saturday, June 7. The festival, which is volunteer-led and supported by Rik Mayall's family, will feature a range of performances, screenings, and workshops at the Norbury Theatre and other venues across Droitwich. It will celebrate Mayall's legacy while attracting new visitors to the town. The firm will support the festival's final day event, Party in the Park, a community celebration featuring live comedy, music, and family-friendly entertainment. Tony Archer, a partner at the firm for almost 30 years, is leading the firm's commitment to the festival. He said: "At Ormerod Rutter, we are heavily involved in supporting our local community in any way that we can. "We're one of the largest employers in the area with over 240 members of staff – this is the community that our team are part of, and the community that have been our clients throughout our 40-year history. "We like to give back in any way we can. "We were made aware of the festival, and wanted to be involved, especially as many of the partners and team are huge fans of local legend Rik." Julian Powell, finance director of the festival, said: "We are incredibly grateful to Ormerod Rutter for their support as a community partner. "As a well-respected business in the region, their commitment to the local community is evident, and we're delighted to have them involved in the festival's closing celebrations." The firm, launched in Droitwich more than 40 years ago by Peter Ormerod and Garry Rutter, offers a wide range of accounting, audit, tax, and specialist advisory services. Mr Ormerod said: "A huge part of our culture is to give back to the local community. "We sponsor a variety of local grassroots sports teams. "We also raise money for various local charities throughout the year as well as organising volunteer days with them for our team."
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.
