- Rik Mayall, star of The Young Ones, dies aged 56



British comedian and actor Rik Mayall has died aged 56, according to his management team.

He played the obnoxious, poetry-writing anarchist Rick in The Young Ones alongside his friend Adrian Edmonson before the duo later went on to star in their sitcom Bottom.

Mayall also appeared in shows including Blackadder and The New Statesman. Mayall's film roles included the comedies Drop Dead Fred and Guest House Paradiso.

I can't think of a time in my life when I wasn't laughing about something Rik Mayall has done. Incredible comedic force. So many great things, high and low. The Young Ones, Black Adder, Grim Tales, Drop Dead Fred, Bring Me The Head of Mavis Davis, Jonathan Creek. On and on it goes. A terrible loss, too soon. Very sad.