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

He famously played Rick in The Young Ones alongside friend Adrian Edmonson, who he went on partner up with on hit show Bottom.

Best known for his energetic, over-the-top characters he also appeared in cult series such Blackadder, The New Statesman and 1991’s comedy fantasy film Drop Dead Fred,

Rik recently visted Falmouth Bookseller, and even took time to pose with a copy of the Packet.

The chaotic comic pioneer who spent more than two decades on the nation’s TV screens made a rare appearance in a Falmouth bookshop last summer

He took up residence in Falmouth Bookseller in his “favourite city” of “Foul-mouth” to promote independently-produced audio-comedy CD “The Last Hurrah,” in which he plays an immortal sherry-guzzling snowman called Elton.

“Foul-mouth Bookseller,” said Rik, “is the only shop in the country - in fact on the face of the planet, in fact in any high street in any universe – that sells The Last Hurrah.

“It’s the only city that has a shop you can go in to and buy The Last Hurrah, which is my latest work along with a couple of naughty boys around here called Craig Green and Dominic Vince.”

Falmouth Packet:

Here is the story of when he visited Falmouth.

 

Here is one of our favourites 

And here he is in all his glory in The Young Ones