Rik Mayall festival pays tribute to 'unique' talent

Rik Mayall died in 2014 at the age of 56

For an entire generation growing up the 1980s and 1990s, Rik Mayall was one of the most familiar - and fascinating - faces on television.

And now, 11 years after his death at the age of 56, his legacy is being celebrated with the first comedy festival in his memory, in his hometown of Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire.

Mayall's friend and frequent collaborator - and festival patron - Ben Elton said it was only right that his contribution to comedy was being honoured.

"What Rik did was so exuberantly, fabulously, gleefully huge, that in the right moment, it was probably about as funny as it's possible to be," he told the BBC.

Off-the-wall series The Young Ones helped bring alternative comedy into the mainstream

Elton first met Mayall at the University of Manchester, before they went on to collaborate on The Young Ones, Blackadder, and Filthy Rich and Catflap.

"Rik had an essential star quality which was kind of unique", said Elton. "I've been fortunate enough to work with some great talent.

"None have had the quality Rik had."

Patron of the festival Ben Elton said Mayall was a unique force in comedy

The Rik Mayall Comedy Festival, which begins on Saturday and runs for eight days, will see stand-up from well-known figures such as Greg Davies, Helen Lederer and Shaparak Khorsandi as well as less-established comedians, alongside music, magic and spoken word events.

Its epicentre will be the town's Norbury Theatre, where Mayall first performed as a child in a production of Waiting for Godot.

"Everyone in the town is so pleased with what we're doing," said festival director Stuart Panrucker.

"I think it's really given everyone a sense of ownership of Rik and... [the chance to] say he's one of ours and give us something to be proud of."

Mayall went on to star in the political satire The New Statesman, as the Thatcherite MP Alan B'stard, and as perennial loser Richard Richard in Bottom, which he created and wrote with another university friend, Ade Edmondson.

Many are still repeated on television to this day.

"I think Rik's comedy is timeless," said producer and writer John Lloyd, who worked on Blackadder. "It's unique - there's nobody I can think of who's even close to being like him.

"Everything Rik did was so full of charisma. It was like magic.

"There was an aura about him."

'Bold and brave'

Comedian, writer and actress Helen Lederer said Mayall was a charismatic performer, a brilliant actor, and a "standalone, anarchic comedian" who spearheaded the alternative comedy movement.

She said, instead of a statue, the festival was a week-long a tribute to Mayall that was "bold and brave, just like Rik".

"People need to remember and be inspired by these standout individuals we've had," she said. "It's about laughing and encouraging new people."

Mayall had backed her own career, she said. "Ricky was so encouraging and kind of connected and saw me and I think that I will always remember that, and you do remember that when you're starting out – who supported you, who saw something in you." She said Mayall had done that for many people.

Bottom, which ran from 1991-1995, was later translated into a successful stage production

The festival will give Mayall's prolific output the chance to find a new legion of fans, added Elton.

"Obviously lots of people don't need alerting to his brilliance, but they can be reminded," he said. "And perhaps some new people can discover it."

Mayall, pictured with his sister Libby, grew up in Droitwich Spa

In a statement, Mayall's family lent their support to the event.

"We are really touched that Droitwich Spa has chosen to honour Rik with a comedy festival," they said. "His mum and dad would have been so proud and especially pleased that the Norbury Theatre features prominently.

"Spending a week laughing is the perfect way to remember Rik."

The Rik Mayall Comedy Festival runs in Droitwich Spa between 31 May and 7June.