Rik Mayall was for many people one of the greatest comedy actors and writers and performer ever.
He was anarchic, insane, violent, but above all else extremely funny.
He was great in everything he did, be it the Cliff Richard loving Rik in The Young Ones, the slobby pathetic Richie in Bottom or the totally immoral Alan B'Stard in The New Statesman.
He did what I still believe now to be the greatest edition of Jackanory every shown on TV - his reading of Roald Dahl's George's Marvellous Medicine was a breathtaking performance from an extremely talented man.
His teaming for Adrian Edmondson in the early 80s broke new ground with comedy when TV comedy was all safe and sound in the world of suburbia, they came crashing in kicking and screaming.
He died earlier today at the age of 56. I always in visioned Rik reaching his 90s still being his anarchic self, so for him to leave us at just 56 makes me (and no doubt quite a few others) annoyed and depressed at it all.
He leaves us with a tremendous legacy of comedy and brilliance.
He will be deeply missed by us all.
REST IN PEACE RIK MAYALL
