Rik Mayall Dies Aged 56

Comedian and actor Rik Mayall has died at the age of 56.

Confirming the news, a brief statement from Rik’s management, Brunskill, reads: "We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Rik Mayall who passed away this morning. We will be issuing a further statement in the fullness of time."

Born in Harlow, Essex in 1958, Rik became a household name in the early 1980s largely thanks to his role as the tantrum-throwing self-proclaimed anarchist Rick in The Young Ones – a series he created alongside his then girlfriend Lise Mayer and Ben Elton.

In 1991 Rik and his Young Ones co-star Adrian Edmondson premiered their own slapstick sitcom, the gloriously anarchic Bottom.

Mayall also appeared as the lecherous Lord Flashheart in Blackadder and as loathesome Tory politician Alan B-Stard in The New Statesman (pictured below).

His film roles included Guest House Paradiso, Carry On Columbus and Drop Dead Fred.

In April 1998, Mayall was injured in a quad bike crash near his home in Devon. Suffering two haematomas and a fractured skull, he was airlifted to hospital where he was on a life support machine for five days.

Mayall said of the life-threatening accident last year: "The main difference between now and before my accident is I'm just very glad to be alive.

"Other people get moody in their 40s and 50s - men get the male menopause. I missed the whole thing. I was just really happy."

In the 2005 poll the Comedians' Comedian, Mayall was voted among the top 50 comedy performers of all time.

Three years later he was made an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Exeter.

Fellow comedian David Walliams paid tribute to Mayall on Twitter, writing: "I am heartbroken that my comedy idol growing up Rik Mayall has died. He made me want to be a comedian."

Jack Dee wrote: “So shocked to hear about Rik Mayall. A wonderfully funny icon of British comedy.”

Noel Fielding said: “Growing up there was no one funnier ! We will really miss you Rik Mayall you genius x”

Also paying tribute, Charlie Brooker wrote: “Rik Mayall was just pure wiry, energetic, unpredictable humour poured into the shape of a human. You couldn't not watch him.”

Rik leaves behind his wife Barbara and their three children Rosie, Sidney and Bonnie.

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