Radio Times review

In a year when a celeb seemed to pop off every week, some losses were keener than others. Rik Mayall was 56 when he died suddenly in June: nowhere near retirement, as evidenced by his TV comeback last year in Man Down. That show's bereft creator, Greg Davies, contributes to this documentary, as do Michael Palin, Lenny Henry, Ben Elton, Alexei Sayle, Tim McInnerny and Ruby Wax.

The rare footage here should illustrate how Mayall justified the over-used phrase "force of nature". He was like a child eternally refusing to grow up. That's why it was so shocking when he turned out not to be unstoppable after all.

Alexei Sayle's Marxist demolition of Strictly

The TV show has taken a great popular art form and turned it into a travesty, argues the comedian - which is why you will never see this dance lover on Strictly.

Alexei Sayle on Rik Mayall

Rik Mayall could make people laugh just by walking on stage and standing there.

In many ways the antithesis of BBC2's traditional "highbrow" output, The Young Ones' anarchic approach to comedy was an instant cult hit with younger audiences. It set the tone for the age of "alternative" comedy that still dominates today. The premise - four students who live in a bedsit - was traditional, but its structure, which included fragmented and often surreal storylines, random asides, the trashing of the set and sudden cuts to hamsters singing in a fridge, was energetic, punky and pioneering. Written (mostly) by Ben Elton and starring Adrian Edmondson (Vyvyan), Rik Mayall (Rick), Nigel Planer (Neil) and Christopher Ryan (Mick) - it also featured Alexei Sayle as landlord Mr Balowski.

Since light entertainment programmes were allocated bigger budgets than sitcoms, it was decided every episode would also feature a band. These bands - which included Dexy's Midnight Runners, and Madness - would perform songs which had no relevance to the plot.

Memorable scenes include Footlights versus Scumbag College in University Challenge; Vyvyan's head being cut off and then rolling along a train track still speaking; as well as the last shot of them all toppling over a cliff in a stolen double-decker bus.

Alexei Sayle on 35 Years in Comedy

Anybody interested in recent comedy history should have been at I Say, Alexei Sayle's inaugural "Comedy Conversation" at Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival earlier this week.

Alexei Sayle on 35 years in the business

Today's stand-up scene has lost almost all links to the revolutionary spirit that first launched alternative comedy, Alexei Sayle has claimed.

Alexei Sayle to give lecture at De Montfort University

Veteran funnyman Alexei Sayle is making his debut appearance at Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival next month.

The best comedy gigs of 2013

Alexei Sayle, Russell Brand, Bridget Christie, The Pin and Tim Key showed us the funny this year.

5 things you might not know about Stewart Lee

Including links to Alexei Sayle, Bridget Christie, Baconface... and Michael McIntyre.

Acts for Greenwich Comedy Festival 2013 revealed

Alexei Sayle, Mark Watson and David O'Doherty will be headline acts in this year's Greenwich Comedy Festival, it has been announced.