Official Rik Mayall biography announced
- [p}Rik Mayall]'s official biography will be published in 2028
- The date will mark 70 years since the late comic legend's birth
Rik: The Lives And Times Of Rik Mayall will be published in March 2028, marking the late comedy icon's 70th birthday.
The only official, authorised biography of the late star, it is being penned by his friend and co-writer Max Kinnings, with whom he co-wrote the acclaimed tongue-in-cheek autobiography The Rik Mayall - Bigger Than Hitler Better Than Christ.
The book is not yet available to pre-order, but will be released in audiobook, hardback and eBook formats.
Publishers at Penguin-owned Viking say: "Using over 100 hours of conversations recorded with Rik himself, interviews with his close family and many long-term friends and collaborators, as well as a host of legendary writers, promoters, TV executives, and figures from across the entertainment world, Rik is full of amazing stories about the lives he led, the shows he starred in, and the people he was influenced by and influenced in turn.
"As a backdrop, it paints a vivid picture of post-war British culture, from rundown 1970s Manchester where Rik first found his love for comedy and life-long colleagues, to the explosion of British alternative comedy talent in the 1980s, where Rik first found success, from The Young Ones and his brief and brilliant cameos as Flashheart in Blackadder, through to The New Statesman and Bottom, appearances on the West End stage and a brief flirtation with Hollywood. The book also discusses the impact of the quad bike accident in 1998 that put him in a coma for five days, and his relationship with comedy partner, Adrian Edmondson."
They explain: "As a close friend and co-writer of Rik's, Max Kinnings has a unique level of access to his family including his wife Barbara and children, former friends, colleagues and collaborators, making him the perfect author to speak to Rik's enduring and dedicated fanbase, as well as a whole new generation of comedy fans. Max has previously interviewed, and will revisit key people in Rik's life, from his school days and years in Manchester where he met and began collaborations with Adrian Edmondson and Ben Elton, to becoming the stand out comedian and comic actor of his generation, working with - amongst many others - Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Alexei Sayle, Stephen Fry, Rowan Atkinson, John Cleese and Helena Bonham-Carter."
Viking's publishing director Daniel Crewe says: "This will be the closest we'll get to an autobiography of comedy god Rik Mayall - thanks to Max's unique time with Rik, and his intimate knowledge of the history of comedy. Through the vivid picture that Max will paint of Rik the comedian, the writer, the friend and partner, this book will show his fundamental impact on British comedy and popular culture. It's going to be ruddy superb."
Max Kinnings said: "Rik Mayall was the godfather of modern comedy - a trailblazer, pioneer, and enduring inspiration to the generation of comedians who emerged in the early 1980s and went on to shape British comedy for decades to come. I am thrilled to be working with Viking on what will be the definitive exploration of his life, on screen and off, his legacy and the influence his unique performances have had on the British psyche that will go to the heart of what made him so special."
Rik: The Lives And Times Of Rik Mayall
Rik: The Lives And Times Of Rik Mayall is the only official authorised biography of the star of shows including The Young Ones and Bottom, who left a huge legacy, having died in his fifties in 2014.
Using over 100 hours of conversations recorded with Rik himself, interviews with his close family and many long-term friends and collaborators, as well as a host of legendary writers, promoters, TV executives, and figures from across the entertainment world, Rik: The Lives And Times Of Rik Mayall is full of amazing stories about the lives he led, the shows he starred in, and the people he was influenced by and influenced in turn.
As a backdrop, it paints a vivid picture of post-war British culture, from rundown 1970s Manchester where Rik first found his love for comedy and life-long colleagues, to the explosion of British alternative comedy talent in the 1980s, where Rik first found success, from The Young Ones and his brief and brilliant cameos as Flashheart in Blackadder, through to The New Statesman and Bottom, appearances on the West End stage and a brief flirtation with Hollywood. The book also discusses the impact of the quad bike accident in 1998 that put him in a coma for five days, and his relationship with comedy partner, Adrian Edmondson.
First published: Wednesday 8th March 2028
- Publisher: Viking
BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.
- Publisher: Viking
BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.
- Publisher: Viking
BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.