Adrian Edmondson
Edmondson in 2008
Born	Adrian Charles Edmondson (1957-01-24)24 January 1957 (age 69) Bradford, England
Education	Pocklington School
Alma mater	University of Manchester
Notable work	The Young Ones The Comic Strip Presents... Filthy Rich & Catflap Bottom Guest House Paradiso The Dangerous Brothers EastEnders Holby City A Spy Among Friends
Spouse	Jennifer Saunders ​ (m. 1985)​
Children	3, includingElla andBeattie
Comedy career
Years active	1981–present
Medium	Film stand-up television
Genres	Black comedy musical comedy physical comedy

Adrian Charles Edmondson (born 24 January 1957)^[1] is an English actor, comedian, musician, writer and television presenter, who came to fame as part of thealternative comedy boom in the early 1980s. He and his comedy partnerRik Mayall starred in the television sitcomsThe Young Ones (1982–1984),Filthy Rich & Catflap (1987) andBottom (1991–1995), the last of which was written by Edmondson and Mayall, as well as the comedy feature filmGuest House Paradiso (1999), which Edmondson directed and co-wrote. Edmondson and Mayall also appeared inThe Comic Strip Presents... series of films throughout the 1980s and 1990s. For two episodes of this they created the spoofheavy metal bandBad News, and for another Edmondson played hisnihilisticalter-ego Eddie Monsoon, an offensiveSouth African television star.^[2]

He played the lead role inthe Comic Strip's 1985 feature filmThe Supergrass. In the 2000s Edmondson appeared inJonathan Creek,Holby City,Miss Austen Regrets, as himself onHell's Kitchen, and created the sitcomTeenage Kicks. He performed and wrote for theBonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (2006–2007). In 2008 he formed afolk punk band,the Bad Shepherds, singing and playingmandola andmandolin. In 2011 he presentedThe Dales andAde in Britain, in which he undertook a tour of numerous places in Britain. In 2013, Edmondson was crowned the winner ofCelebrity Masterchef. From 2019 to 2020 he appeared inEastEnders asDaniel Cook, and in 2022 he playedEbenezer Scrooge in theRoyal Shakespeare Company's adaptation ofA Christmas Carol.

The second of four children, Adrian Charles Edmondson was born on 24 January 1957 inBradford,West Riding of Yorkshire,^[1] to Dorothy Eileen Sturgeon (born 1930) and Fred Edmondson (1929–2014). As a child, Edmondson lived with his family in a variety of places includingCyprus,Bahrain, andUganda, where his father was a teacher in theBritish Armed Forces.^[1] Edmondson attendedPocklington School,East Riding of Yorkshire, from 1968 to 1975, from age 11 to 18.^[3] In an interview with theTimes Educational Supplement (TES), he stated that he did not enjoy his education at Pocklington, and that his group of friends considered the school's printed booklet of "endless" behavioural rules to be "a personal challenge to break".^[4] Edmondson calculated that during his time at Pocklington, he received a total of 66 strokes of thecane as well as frequentslipperings.^[4]

By the time he was in sixth form, with his parents were working abroad,^[4] Edmondson began to enjoy himself, "which involved lots of drinking and smoking and petty acts ofvandalism." He made some good friends at the school and had a favourite teacher.^[4]

Edmondson went to theVictoria University of Manchester^[5] (now known as the University of Manchester) to study drama, where he met his future comedy partnerRik Mayall, both graduating with a BA degree in 1978.^[5] Edmondson and Mayall became best friends, during this time, they also met fellow studentBen Elton,^[5] and soon became involved in the growingalternative comedy genre.^[5]

Under the name20th Century Coyote, Edmondson and Mayall became one of the star attractions atThe Comedy Store, and joined other upcoming comedians, includingNigel Planer,Peter Richardson,Alexei Sayle, andFrench and Saunders atThe Comic Strip club.^[6] The Comic Strip soon gained a reputation as one of the most popular comedy clubs in London and soon came to the attention ofChannel 4.^[7] Edmondson and the others were commissioned to act in 6 self-contained half-hour films, using the group as comedy actors rather than stand-up performers. The series, titledThe Comic Strip Presents... debuted on 2 November 1982 (the opening night of Channel 4).^[7] The first episode to be broadcast was "Five Go Mad in Dorset", a parody ofEnid Blyton'sFamous Five, and Edmondson starred as one of the five.^[7]

Following this, theBBC signed Edmondson, Mayall, Richardson, Planer, and Sayle to star inThe Young Ones,^[8] a sitcom of similar anarchic style and violent slapstick asThe Comic Strip. Edmondson and Mayall returned to their "Coyote" dynamic in the double actthe Dangerous Brothers with Edmondson as "Sir Adrian Dangerous" inSaturday Live (1985–1987).^[8]

In 1985 Edmondson starred with his wifeJennifer Saunders inHappy Families, a rural comedy drama written by Ben Elton, which appeared on the BBC and told the story of the dysfunctional Fuddle family.^[9]

In 1987, Edmondson reunited with Planer and Mayall to star inFilthy Rich & Catflap,^[8] a comic attack on showbiz, again written by Elton. He played "Edward Catflap", a coarse, drunken minder of light-entertainment nonentity "Richie Rich". In this show Edmondson displayed the same slapstick characteristics as Vyvyan inThe Young Ones but was closer in personality to his later character "Eddie Hitler" inBottom.^[8] The show was cancelled after one series. Edmondson was also slated to make a guest appearance along Mayall in the fifth episode of theITV sitcomHardwicke House.^[8] Due to the adverse reaction of both press and viewers, however, ITV withdrew the series after showing only two episodes and the remaining episodes – including Edmondson's scheduled guest appearance in episode 5 – have never been shown.^[10]

In 1988, Edmondson released a follow-up toHow To Be A Complete Bastard calledThe Bastard's Book of the Worst. In 1989 he made an appearance asthe Red Baron, nemesis to Mayall's character,Lord Flashheart, in an episode ofBlackadder Goes Forth.^[8]

Edmondson played Brad Majors in the 1990 West End run ofThe Rocky Horror Show,^[11] alongsideTim McInnerny as Frank-N-Furter andEd Tudor-Pole as Riff-Raff. He also appears on the soundtrack album of the production. In 1991, he teamed with his comedy partner Rik Mayall once more, this time co-writing and co-starring in their own sitcom,Bottom.^[8] Edmondson starred as "Edward Elizabeth Hitler" opposite Mayall's "Richard Richard". The series featured the slapstick, crude humour for which the pair had become famous but with more in-depth character analysis.

Edmondson played Estragon to Mayall's Vladimir inSamuel Beckett's playWaiting for Godot in theWest End, in a production that opened at theQueen's Theatre on 30 September 1991.Bottom became very popular, but it was criticised for its often vulgar humour. The show was also turned into five UK stage tours (1993, 1995, 1997, 2001 and 2003).^[8]

In 1993, Edmondson starred alongsideRichard Briers in a black comedy calledIf You See God, Tell Him,^[8] where Edmondson played Gordon Spry, whose uncle (Briers) is paralysed and has a greatly reduced attention span, and his erratic behaviour causes problems.^[8]

In September 1995, Edmondson released his first (comic) novel,The Gobbler. In 1996, he played the role of Ace Face/Bellboy at the Who's performance ofQuadrophenia at London'sHyde Park. A video game calledAnimal, featuring Peperami's "the animal", was released the same year, with the character being voiced by Edmondson. From 1997 to 1998, he voiced engine stoker "Limbs" Jones, a major character in the animated seriesCaptain Star.

In the 1998 ITV pantomimeJack and the Beanstalk, Edmondson played Jack's mother Dame Dolly alongsideGriff Rhys Jones,Neil Morrissey,Denise Van Outen,Paul Merton,Julian Clary andJulie Walters.^[11]

Edmondson appeared regularly as Brendan Baxter in Series 4 of the BBC mystery seriesJonathan Creek, broadcast in 2003–2004.^[8] He had a lead role playing an NHS doctor in the comedy seriesDoctors and Nurses first broadcast in early 2004. InSurviving Disaster, a BBC docudrama about the 1986Chernobyl disaster, broadcast at the start of 2006, Edmondson played the role ofValery Legasov.^[12] In 2005 he appeared as a celebrity model onStar Portraits withRolf Harris.^[12] That year, he also competed on "Comic Relief Does Fame Academy" where he made it to the finale and came in 3rd place. From 2005 to 2008 he appeared as Percy "Abra" Durant in the medical dramaHolby City.^[12] In 2008 he played Henry Austen in the BBC produced filmMiss Austen Regrets,^[12] and Vernon in the ITV sitcomTeenage Kicks.^[12] In April 2009, he reached the final, coming second toLinda Evans in the cooking showHell's Kitchen.^[12]

Edmondson played the role of Captain Hook in the Canterbury Marlowe Arena pantomime during its Christmas 2009 run.

In an August 2010 edition of Radio 4'sChain Reaction programme he said toLee Mack that he had not really quit^{[clarification needed]} but was focusing more on music and farming. He also said that he and Mayall often spoke of a reunion when they are old men,^[13] or in fifteen years' time. Mayall appeared during Edmondson's winning performance ofThe Dying Swan on BBC One'sLet's Dance for Comic Relief on 5 March 2011, and in September 2011, Edmondson appeared on the Sunday morning cooking showSomething for the Weekend and told presenterTim Lovejoy that he andRik Mayall were planning to reunite and make another series ofBottom, set in an old people's home.^[14]

In 2011, Edmondson hosted theITV documentary seriesThe Dales, in which he followed a number of families who live and work in theYorkshire Dales, including the "Yorkshire Shepherdess"Amanda Owen.^[15] He also presented the ITV seriesAde in Britain that year, where he travelled to different parts of theUnited Kingdom in aMini Countryman towing a small caravan, often including a performed segment from local folk singers. A second series followed in 2013.^[12]

Edmondson appeared on theBBC One seriesThat's Britain! 2011.^[12] In each episode, his task was to report as an "insider" in how a region of Britain works. A one-off special,Britain Beware, about the history of Britishpublic information films, was hosted by Edmondson in 2012.^[12]

In August 2012, the BBC announced plans for a 2013 television adaptation of Edmondson and Mayall's 1997Hooligan's Island tour,^[16] but Edmondson announced later that year that he had pulled out of the project to pursue other interests.^[17]Rik Mayall, Edmondson's long-time creative partner, died on 9 June 2014.^[18]

Edmondson had a minor role in the 2012 filmBlood.^[12] Edmondson and Saunders reunited with their former Comic Strip colleagues in 2012 for aGold Famous Five sequel,Five Go to Rehab.^[12]

Edmondson won the 2013BBC One cookery series ofCelebrity MasterChef. In 2014, Edmondson presentedAde at Sea,^[12] a factual six-part programme for theITV network. In 2014, he played DCI Warner in the three-part mini-seriesPrey.^[12]

He played the role of Gordon in the 2013 Chichester Festival Theatre production of Neville's Island. In 2014, he reprised the role for the show's West End run.^[19] In 2015, Edmondson voiced Stanley theDachshund in adverts for health and life insurance company Vitality.^[20]

In 2016, Edmondson took part in episode 4 ofThe Great Sport Relief Bake Off and won the title of Star Baker.^[12] Edmondson starred in an adaptation of William Leith's bestsellerBits Of Me Are Falling Apart at theSoho Theatre, London.^[21][22]

Edmondson's children's bookTilly and the Time Machine was published on 4 May 2017.^[23] From November 2017 into 2018, Edmondson played the character ofMalvolio in theRoyal Shakespeare Company's production of Shakespeare'sTwelfth Night.^[24] Also in 2017, Edmondson appeared as Captain Peavey in the eighth film of theStar Wars series,The Last Jedi, a casting decision made by the film's directorRian Johnson, a self-proclaimed fan of Edmondson's work inThe Young Ones andBottom.^[25]

In August 2018, Edmondson voiced the character of Bunny in the English version of the French/Belgian animated filmThe Big Bad Fox and Other Tales....^[26] In September 2018, Edmondson featured as Sergeant Dogberry in the episode "Sigh No More" ofBen Elton'sUpstart Crow.^[27] From September 2018 to November 2018, Edmondson toured withNigel Planer in a play that they wrote together calledVulcan 7^[28] (restaged in 2023 asIt's Headed Straight Towards Us^[29]). In 2019, Edmondson appeared inEastEnders asDaniel Cook.^[30]

In 1984, Edmondson formed the spoof heavy metal bandBad News,^[3] as part ofThe Comic Strip Presents... series withComic Strip regularsRik Mayall,Nigel Planer andPeter Richardson.^[3] The band proved popular, and they released two singles (neither of which reached the top 40) and two studio albums.^[3] They also played a series of small gigs around the country, culminating in their performance at theMonsters of Rock festival in 1986.^[31]

In 1986, Edmondson achieved a number one hit in theUK singles chart when he and his co-stars fromThe Young Ones teamed up withCliff Richard to record a new version of "Living Doll" for the inauguralComic Relief campaign.^[3] Despite having been killed off in the final episode of the series, Edmondson played Vyvyan one last time in the video.^[3] The same year he co-wrote the bookHow to be a Complete Bastard together with Mark Leigh and Mike Lepine.^[18]

Edmondson has directed pop videos for "Fiesta" (1988) bythe Pogues, "Prime Mover" (1987) byZodiac Mindwarp, "Like the Weather" (1988) by10,000 Maniacs, "Please Help the Cause Against Loneliness" (1988) bySandie Shaw and "Hourglass" bySqueeze (1987).^[3] The latter won Best Video at the MTV awards. He also directed "Black Sheep Wall" (1989) byThe Innocence Mission, "This Town" (1989) byElvis Costello and "When I Grow Up" (1989) byMichelle Shocked.^[3]

He also directed and appeared in "International Rescue" (1989) byFuzzbox^[32] and appeared in the music video "Terry" (1983) byKirsty MacColl.^[33]

In 1991, Edmondson formedthe Bum Notes, who were a jazz instrumental band and conceived exclusively to perform theme music forBottom.^[3]

A fan of theBonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Edmondson performed vocals with them as part of their 2006 reformation and countrywide tour. He also contributed vocals and writing for their 2007 albumPour l'Amour des Chiens.^[34]

Together withMaartin Allcock, Andy Dinan andTroy Donockley, Edmondson founded the bandthe Bad Shepherds in 2008, performing punk and new wave classics on traditional folk instruments. The band released three albums and first toured in 2009, playing at places such as theTrowbridge Village Pump Festival. The Bad Shepherds also headlined the first ever Looe Music Festival in 2011. They disbanded in October 2016.^[35]

In 2010, he founded the Idiot Bastard Band withSimon Brint,Rowland Rivron,Neil Innes andPhill Jupitus. The Idiot Bastard Band perform original comedy songs as well as cover versions, and their shows often feature guest performers. The group continued to perform following the death of Brint in 2011.^[36]

Edmondson married comedianJennifer Saunders on 11 May 1985.^[37] They have three daughters, including musicianElla and actressBeattie.^[38] He is a supporter ofExeter City F.C.^[39]

Edmondson's autobiography,Berserker!: An Autobiography, was published byPan Macmillan in September 2023.^[18]

In September 2023 Edmondson was the guest for BBC Radio 4'sDesert Island Discs. An extended version was broadcast in September 2024. His choices included "Downtown" byPetula Clark and "Sugar, Sugar" byThe Archies. His favourite song was "Wide Open Spaces" byThe Dixie Chicks, his book choice wasWaiting for Godot bySamuel Beckett, and his luxury item was atab of acid.^[40]

Albums

Non-album songs

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