Rik Mayall dies aged 56

It is with great sadness and a very heavy heart to report that comedian, actor and comedy legend Rik Mayall passed away today on June the 9th 2014; he was 56.

The news was announced earlier by his management team, Brunskill, who said: “We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Rik Mayall who passed away this morning.

“We will be issuing a further statement in the fullness of time.”

He died at home in London. The Metropolitan Police said the death was not believed to be suspicious.

They said they were called to reports of a sudden death of a man in his 50s at 13:19 BST on Monday, in Barnes in south west London.

London Ambulance Service said “a man, aged in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene”.

Best known to Blackadder fans as Flashheart in two series, Rik also portrayed the character Mad Gerald in series one and Robin Hood in Blackadder Back & Forth.

Blackadder producer John Lloyd told the BBC: “It’s really a dreadful piece of news.”

“He was the most extraordinarily good actor as well as being an amazing stand-up comics. Apart from being great company, he was a great professional,” said Lloyd

His manager Roger Davidson said: “It is a terrible shock. All we know at this stage is that Rik died at home.

“He touched many lives, and always for the better.”

He played the obnoxious, poetry-writing anarchist Rick in The Young Ones alongside his friend Adrian Edmondson. The duo later went on to star in the sitcom Bottom.

Edmondson added: “There were times when Rik and I were writing together when we almost died laughing.

They were some of the most carefree stupid days I ever had, and I feel privileged to have shared them with him.

“And now he’s died for real. Without me. Selfish bastard.”

Mayall is survived by his wife Barbara Robbins, who he married in 1985, and their three children Rosie, Sidney and Bonnie.

I’ll update the post as and when news arrives.

For now, here’s Flashy being, well Flashy!

RIP Rik – thanks for the laughs.