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Ade Edmondson was a big presence in comedy during the 80s. Ade Edmondson is an important figure. and Rik MayallThey were both behind successful shows like. Bottom.
The famous actor Mayall. died suddenly in 2014 from a heart attack. at just 56 years old, shocking his family and fans.
Nearly 10 years after Mayall's passing, his comedy partner still misses having the input of the Young Ones star. A few months ago he made Desert Island Discs listeners cry with a story about Mayall, and now he has revealed even more about their deep friendship.
In a documentary that aired from 1991 to 1995 on the Desert Island Discs, he shared a tribute to Mayall that made listeners sob. the presenter dedicated a story to Mayall.
In a documentary about their beloved show, the 67-year-old almost cried when talking about his best friend. show Bottomseries that ran from 1991 to 1995 on the BBCThe 67-year-old almost cried when discussing his best friend in a documentary on their beloved show, which aired from 1991 to 1995.
‘It’s very strange being in a world without [him],’ he shared in Bottom: Exposed. ‘It’s strange to think that he didn’t know anything about Brexit, didn’t know about Covid.’
Edmondson sat in the middle of the famous Bottom sofa, surrounded by the familiar set as he discussed their love for comedy and each other.
He got emotional and continued: ‘I mentioned…. the way we used to write each other’s characters and were in love with each other’s characters – I miss that love.
‘Yeah, I miss that other opinion of me. A very loving opinion.’
The pair had a tough relationship towards the end of the Drop Dead Fred star’s life, but Edmondson remembered their ‘belly laughs’ fondly.
At the time of his death, the duo had not worked together for over 10 years, and Mayall was confused by his friend’s reluctance to continue their working relationship.
In 2013, Mayall blamed the actor for abandoning a Bottom revival the BBC had pitched them as he wanted to wait longer before returning to the characters.
Mayall had joked to MailOnline that he wanted to wait until they were older before doing a Bottom revival, to which Edmondson replied that he wouldn't be able to see or walk by that time, but Mayall passed away a year later.
In his book, Edmondson pointed out his co-star’s drinking habits and ‘comic god’ complex while touring as the end of the show, as laughs were ‘diminishing’ in 2003.
He wrote that ‘Rik never understood my decision to quit. For the next decade, whenever I suggested we have lunch just to chat, he always thought I wanted to get the act back together again.’
In the new documentary, the Jonathan Creek actor said: ‘Our relationship was strained towards the end. And when I do things like this, and I remember the absolute joy of sitting in that little office in Richmond opposite the Hole in the wall pub.
‘It was absolutely, you know, the pure joy – the most joy I’ve ever had in my life, I think.
‘Making each other laugh, really laugh. Big belly laugh, laughs, you know. Really can’t stop laughing, laughing. Very rarely you get a relationship like that with someone.’
Edmondson had mentioned in his 2023 book that when they were brought back to the world of Richie and Eddie in a 2012 reboot the trust had disappeared as Mayall was counting jokes.
He reportedly grumbled that his comedy partner had received more punchlines than he did, causing tension between them.
Despite this strain, it’s evident Edmondson still has a lot of respect and ‘love’ for their time together, which fans were touched by.
In response to a clip of the documentary going viral on X, fan PJ Lamplight wrote: ‘You could see it in their performances Love. Friendship can be underrated but it’s possibly the truest love.’
Lucy Elizabeth added: ‘My heart ❤️ I have loved Rik and Ade almost all my life and this documentary was a perfectly beautiful tribute to their partnership. Thank you @AdrianEdmondson for your honesty and emotion.’
‘How very, very touching this is. The abundance of love he had for Rik flows out of him,’ wrote Phil Murphy.
When asked in Bottom Exposed what the icon would have thought about them celebrating sitcom, Edmondson smiled knowingly.
He replied: ‘Rick would have hated a programme like this and would have told you to f*** off. I mean that quite sincerely.’
