Be sure to check the Message Board regularly. Often new news is posted there first.
Thanks to all who have contributed through the years!
If anyone hears of news or TV appearances that aren't listed here, please e-mail me.
TV LISTINGS
While I try my best to present accurate TV schedules, please always confirm the following information against your local listings.
Omitted - Year Over!
Omitted - Year Over!
Omitted - Year Over!
The 2004 News Archive
Entry Date: December 24, 2004:
We have an update on Oh Marbella, thanks to Damian Binns, one of the co-writers. Thanks, Damian for keeping us updated, even if the the news isn't what we were hoping for.
First of all thanks to everyone who has shown any interest in OH MARBELLA. You're infinte patience allows me to get through another day of this nightmare called cinema.
I'd like to clarify a few things for you guys. From, Me, Damian one of its writers.
The reason that there is no DVD available for Xmas as promised is all down to a question of money.
There is a DVD and it is ready to go, but the simple fact is that because the film didn't make it to cinemas in England and has had no real exposure the cost of advertising the DVD and producing it is too much for an independant to handle itself when it is not sure how well it will sell.
The reason it has not been snapped up by a larger distributer is because they want (as usual )to squash the little guy and pay nothing for this film. They enjoy watching companies getting desperate then offer them peanuts.
The company that made this film, Versatile has obligations to its investors and has to full fill those before it can make its own decisions. So its a catch 22 situation. The production company desperately wants to release it but cannot do it for less than a certain amount of dinero because of legal mumbo jumbo.
Why hasn't it been sold to terestrial like BBC you ask? Aren't the names Rik Mayall and Mike Reid in a world TV premiere worth a few quid... No, they aren't. The BBC has a policy not to pay top dollar for any film that hasn't been at the cinema. A showing of Armageddon last night probably cost them a hundred grand but they never pay more than ten grand for an independant... Their words not mine.
Sky has the same policy and I cannot remember what Darryn said about Granada, though he was playing with a rusty razor after meeting with them.
There are other problems that stop is getting on TV, namely too much nudity (and in some cases old), swearing etc. If we were to remove it from the film it would be only 70 minutes long. A final option we have been considering is to edit into four 30 minute TV episodes... But there isn't any real point.
So there you have it. Oh Marbella is stuck in limbo until further notice. Which is a real shame.
I know its a small comfort but if anyone wants to read the script. That I can get for you. (sound of crickets cirping -- someone coughs --)
Yours apologetically.
Damian.
Entry Date: December 16, 2004:
According to CBBC, a second series of Shoebox Zoo will be broadcast in 2005. Thanks to Felicia for this!
Entry Date: December 12, 2004:
Rik appeared "In Conversation with Paul Jackson" at Exeter University on November 25th (?). News of this appearance has only just been discovered through an online Exeter student magazine. Previous Paul Jackson interviews have been broadcast on UK radio, so it's possible that this one may be as well?
Ade was interviewed last week in Metro about the new Bottom: Mindless Violence DVD. Thanks to Lyndsey Allen for letting us know!
Entry Date: December 1, 2004:
An interview with Ade in today's Daily Mirror confirmed the rumors that he and Rik will no longer be working together in the future. Ade states that he and Rik are still friends, but the partnership is no more. News about the split was also reported in Chortle.
You can listen to Ade on the Steve Wright radio show on November 25th here. It's a little over 6 megabytes, so please allow some time for the MP3 to download. Newsbits of note from the interview are that Ade will be doing a tv show titled Punk Dad, and he and Rik have an idea for a new project together, but they won't be old enough to do it for another 15 years. Whether this Rik & Ade project mention was a joke or not remains to be seen.....anyone want to start the timer so we can check this 15 years from now?
Ade appeared on Richard and Judy on November 24th to promote the new Bottom: Mindless Violence release. Thanks to Tobi for letting us know.
The long ongoing rumors about The Comic Strip Presents being released on DVD look to finally be coming true! A box set is due early next year and it's supposed to include all of the episodes.
Some new photos of Rik at the Churchill: The Hollywood Years premiere have been posted on the Getty Images website.
Entry Date: November 23, 2004:
Ade Edmondson will be on the November 25th Steve Wright radio show on BBC 2. He'll probably be plugging the new Bottom: Mindless Violence release. You can listen online if you don't live in the UK. Thanks to Claire Henson for this.
On BBC 3 today, Rik was shown talking very briefly about Churchill: The Hollywood Years on a show about Hollywood and war films. There was also a brief bit of chatter about the Churchill film itself. Thanks to Foxystoat for this.
Entry Date: November 22, 2004:
According to Amazon.ca, Rik will narrate a new children's audio book by Kaye Umansky titled The Silver Spoon Of Solomon Snow. It's due to be released on January 1st (supposedly). Thanks to Marie Koster for finding this.
According to Teletext and Odeon.co.uk, Churchill: The Hollywood Years will finally be released in cinemas in the UK on December 3rd. Posters for the film have also been spotted in the tube in London. Thanks to Rachel King, FoxyStoat and Christine Patton for this.
A television ad for Bottom: Mindless Violence have started popping up on ITV (and maybe other channels?). Keep your eyes peeled for it! Thanks to Sarah for telling us about this.
Rik's portrayal of Flashheart was mentioned very briefly on a show titled Sex in the Sitcom on UKTV Gold this past weekend. Paul Jackson and Gabby Glaster commented on how sexy both Rik and Flash are and said several flattering things about him. Thanks to Jane for reporting this.
For those in the US, Papa John's Pizza restaurant has a free Drop Dead Fred DVD offer. The thing that makes this interesting is that the DVD doesn't come in a jewel case, but in a 5 inch cardboard sleeve. For those not near a Papa John's, these DVDs are popping up on Ebay regularly.
The TV Guide that came with The Sun had a small feature on King Arthur's Disasters (see the October 24th news) along with a photo of Rik and Matt Lucas. Thanks to Lyndsey Allen for spotting it and for transcribing the following:
What an animated bunch!
TV Secrets' exclusive photos show some of the UK's most funniest people - including Little Britain's Matt Lucas - lending their voices to the new ITV1 cartoon series, King Arthur's Disasters.
Our shots, taken while the group were recording their parts in the studio, show Matt as Merlin, Rik Mayall as King Arthur, The All Star Comedy Shows Morwenna Banks as princess Guinevere and Dead Ringers Phil Cornwell as Sir Lancelot.
Snooty princess Guinevere loves manipulating the besotted King into going on life-threatening adventures to win her love - such as a quest for the Fountain of Youth, when the princess finds a grey hair!
In the 13-part series, which will be on TV next spring, King Arthurs trusted servent Merlin accompanies him on the hilarious journeys. But the king needs to watch out, because scheming Sir Lancelot wants to steal his crown.
"Matt, Rik, Phil and Morwenna are hilarious," says Julian Scott, Head of Childrens Drama and Animation at producers Zenith Entertainment. "The animation, medieval setting and sense of the absurd gives the series echoes of Shrek and Monty Python."
Entry Date: November 13, 2004:
The movie trailer for Churchill: The Hollywood Years is now being shown at cinemas in the UK. It's also online at The Z Review and The BBC. You can find the trailer by looking at the October 30th entries. Rik is shown towards the end of the trailer. Thanks to Fred Tremblay and Anna Wilkinson for the links.
Lyndsey Allen wrote to Channel 4 to ask if The Comic Strip Presents... will ever be released on DVD. She received the following in reply:
"We are in negotiation at the moment so hopefully they should be released next year so keep an eye on the shops. As yet we don't have any definite dates though."
It isn't known what episodes, if any, would be released, or when.
The Best of Bottom DVD that was reported about on October 6th will actually be titled Bottom: Mindless Violence - 25 Years of Rik and Ade. It will be also be released on November 22nd and not on the 29th as previously reported.
According to several online store descriptions, the video will be a "best of" of Rik and Ade's most "violent" bits:
"For 25 years, Rik Mayall & Adrian Edmonson have been kicking the s**t out of each other: On TV on tape and on the stage.
This is a definitive anthology of those eye-watering moments: 25 years of thwacking, headbutting and gouging, bottling, brick lobbing, attempted dentistry with spades, setting each other on fire, and removing vital organs with ordinary household objects.
Every single gouge, punch and belt, not only from the three TV series of Bottom and the five Bottom Live videos, but also from the Young Ones, Filthy Rich & Catflap, The Dangerous Brothers and the Comic Strip Presents...
The meat hooks up the nose, the thong removal with an oxyacetylene torch, the blazing farts after eating 'The Sprouts of Doom', Vyvyan Kicking his head down the railway track, the 'Towering Inferno' impression that went wrong...
Watch if your testicles dare - It's a screaming hardcore pile of bollocks from hell.
Thanks to Ross and Nicholas Powell for this news.
Entry Date: October 24, 2004:
Today's Daily Mirror reports that Rik and Matt Lucas (of Little Britain fame) will star in a new animated TV series titled King Arthur's Disasters. They'll be doing the voices of King Arthur and Merlin. The series will be shown on ITV1 next year, and is reported to be suitable for kids AND adults! Thanks to Claire Henson for this news.
The magazine included with today's News of the World features an article on parts of movies that ended up on the cutting room floor. Rik is mention for his (cut) role as Peeves in the Harry Potter films. In the article, Rik says he was cut "because he was too sexy". He also says he told his daughter that he played Hagrid in order to to cheer her up. Thanks to Diz for spotting this.
Entry Date: October 21, 2004:
Rik is pictured on the movie poster for Churchill: The Hollywood Years. Thanks to Dan Sadler for spotting this (literally!).
Entry Date: October 10, 2004:
Some photos of Rik playing up for a paparazzi's camera were published in the October 6th Daily Mirror's 3am Magazine and also in Star Magazine. Thanks to Claire Henson and Aimee for the scans!
Entry Date: October 6, 2004:
A DVD titled The Best of Bottom will be released on November 29th according to Play.com. It's assumed that this is a different DVD than the previously released The Very Best of Bottom. Thanks to Hannah Davies for finding this.
Rik is in a new TV commercial for Which magazine. So far it's been spotted on the Sky ITV News channel. Keep your eyes open for this one! Thanks to Aimee for this news.
Teressa Ellis-Lavallin reports that a clip from Churchill: The Hollywood Years was shown on GMTV on September 30th. Rik was shown at the end of the clip.
Entry Date: September 26, 2004:
The preview screening of Churchill: The Hollywood Years was cancelled by it's director, Peter Richardson (of Comic Strip Presents... fame) in order to further edit the film. The film will still be in cinemas on September 24th...supposedly. Details can be found at onlypunjab.com. Thanks to Diz for finding this!
Churchill: The Hollywood Years will also supposedly be released on DVD in January, 2005, according to Play.com. Thanks to Anne-Sophie Pottier for this!
Rik was mentioned on the September 23rd edition of the Brit afternoon TV show, Loose Women. The theme of the show was the discussion of sexual fantasies, and who women really think of when they're with their mates. One of the presenters, Sherrie Hewson, mentioned that Rik is on her list of fantasy men
Entry Date: September 12, 2004:
Rik was shown on BBC1 after Newsround last week, being interviewed briefly about his role in Shoebox Zoo. Thanks to everyone who spotted this.
Brian May recently wrote about his time working with Bad News in the September 5, 2004 entry on his official website. Thanks to theduck for letting us know about this!
Entry Date: September 7, 2004:
The October issue of Practical Family History magazine in the UK will feature an article on the name "Bastard". A photo of Rik as Alan B'Stard will be included. The magazine will be available in stores as of September 10th.
Rik is shown in the coming attraction trailer for Churchill: The Hollywood Years in cinemas in the UK. Thanks to Hannah Davies for the heads up!
Entry Date: August 30, 2004:
According to the August 27th Daily Mail, Rik will present a new series titled Violent Nation for the BBC and the Discovery Channel. The show will examine social unrest in Great Britain. Thanks to Wilhelmenia Edbrooke for letting us know about this!
Shoebox Zoo will premiere in September on TV in Canada and Scotland. It will be shown on the CBC and BBC Kids in Canada and CBBC in Scotland. For those who won't be able to see it, the DVD will be out on November 15th.
Rik is seen holding the audio book of High Society in a poster distributed to libraries in the UK.
Entry Date: August 23, 2004:
Rik will star in a new sitcom next year (?) titled The Murderers. It's being co-written by Rik and Max Kinnings. A bit of information is available at Max's website. Rik will supposedly play "a whole new kind of psychopath" in the show. Thanks to Ted Frazer and Marie Koster for this.
Rik was interviewed on The Greatest Kids' TV Moments special on Channel 5 , which was broadcast on August 19th. He came in at #4 on the list for his appearance in the Jackanory story George's Marvelous Medicine. He was quoted as saying "I'm a hardcore alternative comedian, I don't do kids TV"!
According to the IMDB's News page, the future of Churchill: The Hollywood Years is a bit shaky at the moment:
Slater's Film Pulled from Preview Screening
Christian Slater's latest film has been dramatically pulled from a screening by its director - because he's unhappy with the final edit. Peter Richardson cancelled a preview showing of Churchill: The Hollywood Years just hours before its premiere, so he can make amendments to the movie before its release on September 24. A source explains, "Everyone was turned away at the last minute. It was all very odd. Peter Richardson is not pleased with it and wants to re-edit the film." Spokeswoman Amy Matthews says, "I don't know when there will be another screening or when it will be released." Meanwhile, the movie's depiction of the late British Prime Minister is continuing to spark controversy, because it features Slater portraying him as an American soldier who enjoys a kiss with the future Queen, Elizabeth II, during the Second World War. Norman Harvey Rogers, chairman of The Churchill Society, spits, "I am absolutely disgusted that a film like this has been made. It's despicable and deplorable. It is in the utmost bad taste."
Thanks to Fred Tremblay for spotting this!
Entry Date: August 5, 2004:
This week's Radio Times had a small story on The Young Ones in honor of the Comedy Connections special which aired Tuesday, August 10th. There was also some press in TV Times and What's on TV. Rik was interviewed in the show, as was Nigel Planer.
The first photo of Rik in Churchill: The Hollywood Years is available here. Thanks to Fred Tremblay for this link!
Shoebox Zoo will be released on DVD on November 15th. So far it's only listed at Play.com. Also, on October 11th Kevin of the North a/k/a Chilly Dogs will be finally be released on DVD in the UK. You can see the Play.com details of that one here. Thaks so much to Hannah Davies for spotting these!
Entry Date: July 18, 2004:
According to the Oh Marbella! website, the film will be released to Costa del Sol theatres in Spain on September 17th. The DVD will be released in Europe in November. The movie trailer is also now on the website. Thanks to Marie Koster for keeping an eye on this.
Drop Dead Fred has recently been issued on DVD in the UK. You can see the Amazon.co.uk listing for it here. Thanks to Melttalk for this news.
Entry Date: July 13, 2004:
A Bad News compilation CD is going to be reissued on August 9th in the UK. Click here for the Amazon.co.uk listing. Thanks to Mick Condy for this news!
Amazon.co.uk is showing Simon Gray's Fat Chance as being available (reissued?) on March 17, 2005. Whether or not this is a mistake in their database or if a revised (?) version of this book will be released remains to be seen. Thanks to Christine Patton for this news!
The Comedy Connections Young Ones documentary is apparently back on and will air in August.
Click here for the results of our 13th website poll, which asked, "What role would you like to see Rik play next?"
Entry Date: June 29, 2004:
Rik is pictured in this week's Heat magazine in the "Scandal!" section. It's a very funny, pervy photo and you can see it here (courtesy of Claire Henson). Thanks to Lyndsey Allen for alerting us about the photo!
Rik was photographed with son Syd at the June 22nd Around the World in 80 Days premiere in London. Photos can be seen on the Corbis and Getty Images sites (search for Rik's name). Thanks to Anne-Sophie Pottier for finding these!
The Comedy Connections Young Ones documentary has been cancelled and another show has taken it's place (see the March 11th news for just what Comedy Connections even is!). Thanks to Lyndsey Allen for letting us know. Rik was mentioned briefly in a jokey negative comment in the Birds of a Feather Comedy Connections documentary (while Marks & Gran were being mentioned). Thanks to Rachel King for reporting that.
Self Help (see May 23rd's news) will begin shooting on August 4th. Rik has not yet signed a contract for the film, but it's almost certain that he'll appear in it. Thanks to Marie Koster for this news.
The Filthy Rich & Catflap DVD will definitely be released on July 26th, not August 10th. Thanks to Andy Lewis for this!
Entry Date: June 22, 2004:
The saga of the Filthy Rich & Catflap DVD contines.... According to play.com, it's being released on July 26th. This is contrary to the news we heard last week about the release date being August 10th. Thanks to Hannah Netley for this news.
The Abba: The Last Video DVD featuring Rik in "Our Last Video Ever" will be released in the UK on July 5.
Entry Date: June 14, 2004:
Rik will narrate Evelyn Waugh's Decline and Fall on BBC Radio 2 starting on July 2nd. This story has never been released commercially so be sure to catch it on the radio! It's uncertain as to whether or not this program will be available for listening later on on the BBC website. Thanks to Geraldin Rich Jones and Saucywoodnymph for this news.
The Filthy Rich & Catflap DVD has been pushed back again. This time to August 10th. Copyright issues are to blame. Thanks to Melttalk and Dutch for this info.
Entry Date: June 6, 2004:
The Bottom: Weapons Grade Y-Fronts DVD will be released in Australia on July 7th. It will be identical to the British release. Thanks to Erik Vermeulen for this news!
Entry Date: May 23, 2004:
Rik has agreed to appear in a new film titled Self Help, to begin production this July. The film is about a salesman who listens to a motivational tape to try and fine tune his skills. However, after he begins listening (and decides he doesn't want to anymore), he finds that the voice is now stuck in his head. Rik will play "Mr. Moore", a disillusioned team leader. Thanks so much to Nick O'Mahoney for letting us know about this!
Entry Date: May 20, 2004:
Rik will be teaming up with Robert Carlyle in a new film titled The Meat Trade. According to news reports, it will begin filming in Edinburgh by the end of the year. Rik and Robert will play killers who sell human organs for money. The film has been co-written by Irvine Welsh of Trainspotting fame. In an Ananova report, Irvine is quoted as saying the film is "on the crude side. It's a bit like introducing Sweeney Todd to Trainspotting." More information can be found in a Scotland on Sunday article. Thanks so much to Lisa Miller and Claire Henson for this news!
According to a report at ESCToday.com, the Abba video Rik appeared in will be officially released after all. It will come out on an EP DVD sometime in June. Four other original videos will be included on the DVD, but it's not known if Rik will be featured in them (it's doubtful, though!). Thank you to Geraldin Rich Jones for all this Abba detective work!
Entry Date: May 16, 2004:
For those who missed the Abba video, you can view it by visiting http://www.songfestival.nl/, clicking on "Bekijk clip ABBA" and clicking on either broadband or smallband. Thanks to Geraldin Rich Jones for finding this!
A great photo montage from the video is also available, courtesy of Claire Henson.
Geraldin Rich Jones found an article on ABBA: The Site which explains why this project (and Rik's participation) was kept such a secret:
"British comedian Rik Mayall, who sprang to fame in the 1980s television series The Young Ones, plays the record company mogul. The live cast otherwise consists of Swedish actors, most of whom are very famous in their home country.
Shooting of the main scenes took place in March 2004, at Independent Studios, south of Stockholm. “It was especially convenient to do the filming in a place that wasn’t too centrally located; it made it easier to keep the project a secret,” notes Calle Åstrand. Björn, Benny and Agnetha all visited the studios to film their cameo parts in the video. However, Frida was unable to fit a Stockholm visit into her schedule at the time of the main filming, so her scenes were shot in London in April, around the time of the celebrations for the 5th anniversary of the Mamma Mia! musical."
Entry Date: May 12, 2004:
Rik made a surprise (to his fans) appearance tonight in a special Abba video for the Eurovision Song Contest. Titled "Our Last Video -- Ever!", Rik plays a record company executive who isn't very impressed by a musical montage of Abba songs. Abba themselves are represented by puppets in the video, but the actual former group members do make brief cameos.
Press information about the video is scarce, but here's what's available:
- http://www.abbasite.com/news/
- http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/entertainment/news/story4.htm
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
There are also rumors that there will be a longer video release and that Rik will appear on Saturday's Eurovision final this Saturday. Whether or not any of this is true, we'll have to wait and see.
Thanks to Claire Henson, Sarah Williamson, Geraldin Rich Jones and everyone else who has helped with information on this surprise appearance of Rik's!
Entry Date: May 11, 2004:
Geraldin Rich Jones found an online CV for someone named Bob Baldwin who has worked with Rik in the past. In Bob's resume he lists something titled A Man Called Rik Mayall as a recent project -- could this be the title of Rik's upcoming project and the focus of the writing Rik's agent says he's been doing?
A MAN CALLED RIK MAYALL, 2003-4, Director/ Co-Writer with Rik Mayall. 12 x 1/2 hour twisted comedy dramas. Doris Prods
Entry Date: May 9, 2004:
According to Katie Greenwood, Rik's "roll" on Nickelodeon UK is as a host all day on Sundays. He plays a magician named "Merlando" and comes on before each of the shows, makes announcements, does some tricks and a some funny bits. He gets maybe 30 seconds of screen time tops during each segment. There's no word on how long his bit as a presenter will go on for in the future.
Entry Date: May 2, 2004:
Rik has something to do with a show on Nickelodeon UK -- exactly what his role is on the network, I'm still unsure. More details as they unfold.
Entry Date: May 1, 2004:
Rik has voiced another Andrex tv commercial as the Andrex puppy. It's currently running on UK tv.
Entry Date: April 14, 2004:
Marie Koster contacted the Chaos and Cadavers website to ask about a release date for the film. She was told there'd be a UK release sometime in August or September, but no US release date is scheduled at this time. Thanks for the detective work, Marie!
Entry Date: April 10, 2004:
Katie Greenwood also contacted Rik's agent about what Rik's up to, and she received this reply -- thanks for passing it on, Katie!:
Thank you very much for your e-mail enquiring about Rik Mayall. Firstly, I can assure you, that Rik has absolutely no plans to retire. Since the last Bottom tour finished he has been doing a lot of writing, reading of scripts and other such projects. As I write though there are no plans in the pipeline for any future shows. Obviously he is looking at quite a few scripts etc but as yet nothing concrete has been agreed.
Entry Date: April 6, 2004:
Marie Koster kindly contacted Rik's agent for us to see what Rik has been up to lately, since he seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth! This was the reply she received:
Thank you very much for your e-mail about Rik Mayall. As you may know Rik finished a BOTTOM tour just before Christmas which was a huge success. At the moment he is spending a lot of time writing new material but as such there is nothing concrete in the pipeline for you and your UK friends to look out for. Obviously there are things under discussion as well but nothing has been finalised.
According to Jen's Rik and Ade site, the second series of Bottom is due to be released in the UK on DVD in August.
Entry Date: March 31, 2004:
Marie Koster wrote to the Oh Marbella website to ask about release
dates. She was told the film will be released to selected UK cinemas in September, and cinemas in Spain in August. She was also told that DVDs
of the film will be available for purchase around Christmas. Thanks for
the detective work, Marie!
Geraldin Jones spotted the following in
a November, 2003 "Celebrity Sightings" section from the
Daily Mirror -- the accuracy of the report isn't known.
Mark from Bristol 09:10:27 PM 19 November 2003
I saw Rik Mayall today at lunchtime, he was telling a traffic warden he wanted to petrol bomb the shopping centre, and I saw him again 15 mins later outside the cathedral trying to get into student graduation photos.
Entry Date: March 27, 2004:
People are reporting on the message board that their bottommerchandise.com orders are finally starting to arrive.
Some people are getting freebies with their orders as "apologies"
for the delays, but some aren't.
The Young Ones was voted
as having the ninth best
TV finale ever in a poll by cable firm NTL. Thanks to Christine Patton
for spotting this.
Entry Date: March 11, 2004:
The release date of the Filthy Rich & Catflap DVD/reissue video has been pushed back to June 8th. Thanks to Erik Vermeulen for this information.
Several people have reported having trouble with the bottommerchandise.com site. Pre-paid orders are not being received and emails
are not being answered. Unless we start hearing otherwise, please be careful when
ordering from that site! If you've placed an order and have not received it, you
may want to contact your credit card company to dispute the charge.
Comedy website
Chortle reports that the BBC has commissioned a new series
titled Comedy Connections to do
documentaries on various old tv shows -- including one on The Young Ones.
Segments on the careers of the former stars of the show will be included. Thanks so much to Fred Tremblay for this information.
Melttalk reports that last week's What's on TV magazine wished Rik a happy birthday in their horoscope section. It also contained this blurb: "Mars in Capricorn makes Rik a very driven person for whom sucess is important. The influence of Uranus makes 2004 a time of big chance for him and all other Pisceans."
Entry Date: February 12, 2004:
There was an interview with Ade in the Sunday Express a few weeks ago. In it, he spoke about working with Rik in the future as well as Rik's accident in 1998. Thanks to Esme for the news on this and for transcribing the following from the interview:
"The Comic Strip team are all still friends, but the rebels he says have now become 'a nice little group where it's all dinner parties and lovely wine'". He and Rik went on after the Young Ones to create Filthy Rich and Catflap, Guesthouse Paradiso and Bottom and have vowed to continue working together. 'It will definitely happen, says Adrian, Rik would carry on with Bottom but he's more immature than me' he jokes.
"Rik's wife Barbara called us and told us what happened. It was very upsetting. I cried a lot immediately and as soon as I could see I drove straight to the hospital". Rik has been diagnosed with Epilepsy since and must take medication to keep from having seizures, but Edmondson says this has had little negative effect on their working relationship. If anything, they are more dangerous in their performances and both ended up in casualty on their last tour.
According to the IMDB, Churchill: The Hollywood Years is due to be released in theatres in the UK on July 30th. There is NO confirmation about whether or not this information is accurate. Thanks to Karen Tan for spotting this!
For the very late results of the 12th website poll: If You Could Choose a Sequel to
Any of Rik's Projects, Which One Would it Be?, please click here.
Entry Date: January 22, 2004:
For anyone who missed getting any merchandise at the recent Bottom shows, you can go to
www.bottommerchandise.com and order it online. Thanks to Ricky for this link!
The long rumored Filthy Rich & Catflap DVD will be out on March 8th!
It will also be reissued on video. Thanks so much to Blake for sending this link to the cover photo and also to Karen Tan for additional info.
Entry Date: January 17, 2004:
Cathy Basham spotted this in the January 14th edition of Metro. Whether or not it's a joke, no one is quite sure!
Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall have sold the format for cult comedy series Bottom to French TV for a remake. He tells me it will be called 'Derriere'. Quite.
Rik fan Jules Coll is going to be featured on Irish tv show The Fame Game -- to meet Rik! It's a tv show where fans get to meet their idols, and it should be filming around April. Good luck, Jules!
Entry Date: January 13, 2004:
The Young Ones came in at number 31, and Bottom at number 45 in the Britain's Best Sitcom poll/tv special.
Rik is voicing a fourth Andrex toilet paper commercial as the Andrex puppy.