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Rik Mayall funeral attended by stars of comedy Rik Mayall funeral attended by stars of comedy
(35 minutes later)
Friends, relatives and a who's who of British comedy have paid their respects to Rik Mayall at his funeral in a picturesque West Country village.Friends, relatives and a who's who of British comedy have paid their respects to Rik Mayall at his funeral in a picturesque West Country village.
Mourners included Nigel Planer, who starred alongside Mayall in the seminal 80s comedy The Young Ones; and Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French, friends of the late comedian from the days when they appeared together in The Comic Strip Presents …. Mourners included Nigel Planer, who starred alongside Mayall in the seminal 80s comedy The Young Ones; and Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French, friends of the late comedian from the days when they appeared together in The Comic Strip Presents …
Others who filed into the church, accompanied by Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade Of Pale on organ, were the Hollywood star Alan Rickman and the actor and director Peter Richardson, another long-term collaborator of Mayall. Others who filed into the church, accompanied by Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade Of Pale on organ, were the Hollywood star Alan Rickman and the actor and director Peter Richardson, another long-term collaborator of Mayall's.
Standup comedian and writer Ben Elton, Mayall's friend from university and one of his co-writers on The Young Ones, was also among the mourners who watched the wicker coffin adorned with red flowers be carried into St George's Church in Dittisham, Devon. The standup comedian and writer Ben Elton, Mayall's friend from university and one of his co-writers on The Young Ones, was also among the mourners who watched the wicker coffin adorned with red flowers be carried into St George's church in Dittisham, Devon.
Around 140 mourners attended, mainly dressed somberly in black, to remember the life of the star, who died last week, aged 56, at his home in Barnes, south-west London. About 140 mourners attended, mainly dressed sombrely in black, to remember the life of the star, who died last week, aged 56, at his home in Barnes, south-west London.
Mayall, also known for roles in TV hits such as Bottom and The New Statesman, had a home in Devon.Mayall, also known for roles in TV hits such as Bottom and The New Statesman, had a home in Devon.
Prior to the service, Mayall's widow, Barbara, asked fans for their "thoughts and prayers" during the private ceremony. A memorial service is expected to be held in September. Before the service, Mayall's widow, Barbara, asked fans for their "thoughts and prayers" during the private ceremony. A memorial service is expected to be held in September.
Mayall collapsed and died after what has been described as an "acute cardiac event".Mayall collapsed and died after what has been described as an "acute cardiac event".
He gained fame in his role as hopeless poetry-writing anarchist Rick in The Young Ones and went on to star as the conniving MP Alan B'Stard in The New Statesman, and Lord Flashheart in Blackadder. He gained fame in his role as the hopeless poetry-writing anarchist Rick in The Young Ones and went on to star as the conniving MP Alan B'Stard in The New Statesman, and Lord Flashheart in Blackadder.