Adrian Edmondson
Born
January 24, 1957 Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
Occupation
Actor, writer, comedian, director
Career milestones
The Comic Strip Presents... (1982–present) The Young Ones (1982–1984) Bottom (1991–2003)

Adrian Charles Edmondson (born 24 January 1957) is an English actor, comedian, director, and writer. He sometimes credited as Ade Edmondson. Image File history File links Blackadder_IV_-_Private_Plane. ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England_(bordered). ... The larger City of Bradford Metropolitan District includes other settlements in the surrounding area. ... West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke while waiting between takes during location filming An actor or actress is a person who acts, or plays a role, in a dramatic production. ... The term writer can apply to anyone who creates a written work, but the word more usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, or those who have written in many different forms. ... A comedian, or comic, is an entertainer who amuses an audience by making them laugh. ... The film director, on the right, gives last minute direction to the cast and crew, whilst filming a costume drama on location in London. ... This article is about the British comedy group; for the published art form, see comic strip. ... The Young Ones was an anarchic British sitcom which ran for two seasons in 1982 to 1985. ... Bottom was a British sitcom of the early 1990s (and later a series of stage shows) written by Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson. ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke while waiting between takes during location filming An actor or actress is a person who acts, or plays a role, in a dramatic production. ... A comedian, or comic, is an entertainer who amuses an audience by making them laugh. ... The film director, on the right, gives last minute direction to the cast and crew, whilst filming a costume drama on location in London. ... The term writer can apply to anyone who creates a written work, but the word more usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, or those who have written in many different forms. ...

Edmondson is probably best known as the anarchic punk Vyvyan Basterd in the cult BBC sitcom The Young Ones (1982–1984) and later, for his role as Eddie Hitler in the BBC sitcom Bottom (1991–1995) which he also co-wrote. In both of these roles he starred alongside comedy partner, Rik Mayall. The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion... A British sitcom is a situation comedy (sitcom) produced in the United Kingdom. ... The Young Ones; Left to right: Jerzi Balowski (Alexei Sayle), Neil (Nigel Planer), Rik (Rick Mayall), Mike (Christopher Ryan) & Viv (Adrian Edmondson) The Young Ones was a British sitcom about four male students sharing a house. ... Bottom was a British sitcom of the early 1990s (and later a series of stage shows) written by Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson. ... Laurel and Hardy are one of the worlds most popular double acts A double act, also known as a comedy duo, is a comic device in which humor is derived from the uneven relationship between two partners, usually of the same gender, age, ethnic origin, and profession, but drastically... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Early life

He is the second of four children. Though born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, as a child he lived with his family in a variety of places including Cyprus, Bahrain, and Uganda. His father was a teacher in the armed forces. The larger City of Bradford Metropolitan District includes other settlements in the surrounding area. ... West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. ...

He attended Pocklington School, a public school in Yorkshire. Adrian was a pupil at the exclusive boys school from 11 to 18 years of age. He later went on to the University of Manchester to study drama, receiving a 2:1. Edmondson met Mayall while studying at the university. They soon became friends and before long found work on the burgeoning alternative comedy scene. Under the name 20th Century Coyote they became one of the star attractions at the The Comedy Store. As their popularity grew, they and other upcoming comedians (including Alexei Sayle, Peter Richardson, Nigel Planer and French and Saunders) split away from the Comedy Store to set up their own venue: The Comic Strip club. Pocklington School , is a public (private and thus fee-paying) school in Pocklington, East Yorkshire, England. ... The term public school has different meanings: In Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and most other English-speaking nations, a public school is a school which is financed and run by the government and does not charge tuition fees. ... The Victoria University of Manchester (VUM) was a large university in Manchester in England. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... The British undergraduate degree classification system is a grading scheme for undergraduate degrees (bachelors degrees and some masters degrees) in the United Kingdom. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 20th Century Coyote was a comedy group famous for first uniting Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson. ... The Comedy Store is a comedy club located in Soho, London, England that was opened in 1979 by Peter Rosengard. ... Alexei David Sayle is an English comedian, actor and author. ... Peter Richardson born 15 October 1951 in Devon, Britain, is a British actor, comedian, director, and writer. ... Nigel Planer (born February 22, 1955) is a British actor, novelist and playwright. ... French & Saunders is a British sketch comedy television show starring and written by comedy team Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, and is also the name by which they are known on the rare occasions when they appear elsewhere as a double act. ... The Comic Strip is a group of British comedians, best known collectively for their television series The Comic Strip Presents. ...

Career chronology

The Comic Strip soon gained a reputation as one of the most popular comedy clubs in London and soon came to the attention of Channel 4. Edmondson and the others were commissioned to act in six self-contained half-hour films, using the group as comedy actors rather than stand-up performers. The series, entitled The Comic Strip Presents... debuted on 2 November 1982 (the opening night of Channel 4). The first episode to be broadcast was "Five Go Mad in Dorset", a parody of Enid Blyton's Famous Five, which drew anger from some viewers for the way it mercilessly satirised a children's classic. Edmondson starred as one of the five. It has been suggested that Channel Four Television Corporation be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the British comedy group; for the published art form, see comic strip. ... November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 59 days remaining. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Famous Five - Julian (Peter Richardson), Anne (Jennifer Saunders), Dick (Adrian Edmondson) and George (Dawn French) Five Go Mad in Dorset was the first of the long-running series of Comic Strip Presents. ... The Mystery of the Vanished Prince (1951) Enid Mary Blyton (August 11, 1897–November 28, 1968) was a British childrens author. ... The Famous Five is a fictional group of child detectives, composed of four children (Julian, Dick, Anne and George) and their dog Timmy, created by Enid Blyton. ...

At the same time as The Comic Strip Presents... was being negotiated, the BBC signed up Edmondson, Mayall, Richardson, Planer and Sayle to star in The Young Ones, a sitcom in the same anarchic style as The Comic Strip. (Richardson later decided not to proceed and was replaced by Christopher Ryan.) The show revolved around the shared house where the students lived during their study at Scumbag College. It was noted at the time of its first airing for its violent slapstick, with Edmondson's character as the main instigator, and this is a trait which has stayed with him throughout his career. The series captured public imagination and remains one of Britain's most popular sitcoms. Christopher Ryan is an English actor who trained at East 15 Acting School in London. ...

Edmondson (far right) as Vyvyan in The Young Ones

Following the success of The Comic Strip Presents... and, to a greater extent, The Young Ones, Edmondson and Mayall returned to their "Coyote" dynamic in the double act "The Dangerous Brothers" with Edmondson as "Sir (or occasionally Lady) Adrian Dangerous" in Saturday Live (1985–1987). [1] {fair use} This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... [1] {fair use} This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... The Dangerous Brothers was an early stage and TV act by anarchic comedy duo Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson, performing respectively as Richard Dangerous and Sir (or occasionally Lady) Adrian Dangerous. They appeared in a number of brief sketches in the 1980s TV programme Saturday Live. ... Saturday Live was an innovative television comedy and music show broadcast in the UK by Channel 4 from 1985 to 1987. ...

In 1983, he appeared as the lead singer Vim Fuego in the spoof heavy metal band called Bad News, with his Young Ones co-stars, Rik Mayall and Nigel Planer, and Peter Richardson of "Comic Strip Presents...". “Heavy metal” redirects here. ... Bad News are a spoof rock band, created for the Channel 4 television series The Comic Strip Presents. ...

In 1985 Edmondson married fellow Comic Strip performer Jennifer Saunders. The couple now have three children: Eleanor, Beatrice and Freya. Edmondson's university nickname of "Eddie Monsoon", a play on his surname, inspired the name of Saunders' character, Edina Monsoon, on Absolutely Fabulous and his own characters Eddie Catflap (Filthy Rich & Catflap) and Eddie Hitler (Bottom). Their joint production company is called Mr and Mrs Monsoon Limited. Jennifer Saunders Jennifer Jane Saunders (born July 6, 1958 in Sleaford, Lincolnshire) is an English comedian, actress, and comedy writer. ... UK version VHS cover of Filthy Rich & Catflap Filthy Rich & Catflap was a BBC sitcom produced in 1986 and broadcast early the next year. ...

In 1986, Edmondson achieved a number one hit in the UK singles charts when he and his co-stars from The Young Ones teamed up with Cliff Richard to record a new version of "Living Doll" for the inaugural Comic Relief campaign. Despite having been killed off in the final episode of the series, Edmondson played Vyvyan one last time in the video. The same year he co-wrote the book How to be a Complete Bastard together with Mark Leigh and Mike Lepine. This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character or scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension. ... How to be a Complete Bastard is a 1986 book by Adrian Edmondson, Mark Leigh and Mike Lepine. ...

In 1987 he reunited with Planer and Mayall to star in Filthy, Rich and Catflap. The series was penned by The Young Ones' co-writer Ben Elton and saw Edmondson display the same slapstick characteristics as Vyvyan, but was closer in personality to his later character "Eddie Hitler" in Bottom. The show received critical acclaim but poor viewing figures and was cancelled after one series. 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Benjamin Charles Elton (born 3 May 1959) is an English comedian and writer. ...

In 1989 Edmondson made an appearance in an episode of Blackadder Goes Forth as The Red Baron, arch-nemesis to Mayall's character, Lord Flashheart. 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Blackadder is the generic name that encompasses four series of an acclaimed BBC One historical sitcom, along with several one-off installments. ... Red Baron redirects here. ... Lord Flashheart is the name of two characters (the first presumably an ancestor of the second) who appeared in two episodes of the popular BBC sitcom Blackadder. ...

Edmondson played Brad Majors in the 1990 West End run of The Rocky Horror Show, alongside Tim McInnerny as Frank-N-Furter and Ed Tudor-Pole as Riff-Raff. He also appears on the soundtrack album of the production. The Rocky Horror Show is a long running stage musical (opening in London initially, on June 19, 1973) which inspired the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show. ... Tim McInnerny as Lord Percy Percy in Blackadder II. Tim McInnerny (stress on the penultimate syllable of McInnerny) was born September 18, 1956 and is a British actor. ... Edward Tudor-Pole (born December 6, 1955 in London) is a British musician, singer and actor. ...

In 1991 he teamed up with Mayall once more, this time co-writing and co-starring in their own sitcom, Bottom. Edmondson starred as "Edward Elizabeth Hitler" opposite Mayall's "Richard Richard". The series featured the slapstick and crude humour for which the pair had become famous, but also more in-depth character analysis. Mayall and Edmonson have said Bottom was aimed to be more than just a series of toilet gags but a cruder cousin to plays like Waiting for Godot, about the pointlessness of life. The series became very popular. However, it was criticised for its often vulgar humour. Edmondson was also censured for essentially reprising the same character he had been playing for his entire career. Bottom was also incarnated into five UK stage tours (1993, 1995, 1997, 2001 and 2003). The violent natures of these shows saw both Edmondson and Mayall ending up in hospital. 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Vladimir (left) and Estragon (right) hold Pozzo aloft (from a production by Naqshineh Theatre). ...

In 1993 Edmondson starred alongside Richard Briers in a controversial black comedy called If You See God, Tell Him. Edmondson played Gordon Spry, whose Father (Briers) is paralysed and has a greatly reduced attention span. His erratic behaviour causes problems for Gordon. The series comprised four episodes, each 45 minutes long, and only broadcast once. (The BBC has refused to repeat the series.) el 18 de mayo nacio claudia // 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Richard Briers, CBE (born on January 14, 1934) is a popular English actor whose career encompasses the theatre, television, film and radio. ... If you see God, Tell Him was a black comedy starring Richard Briers and Adrian Edmondson shown by the BBC in 1993. ...

Edmondson (left) with Mayall in Bottom

September 1995 saw the release of his first (comic) novel, The Gobbler. Image File history File links Bottom001. ... Image File history File links Bottom001. ... Look up September in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1996, he played the role of Ace Face/Bellboy at The Who's performance of Quadrophenia at London's Hyde Park. 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Quadrophenia is a double album released by The Who on October 19, 1973, one of the groups two full-scale rock operas. ... Hyde Park is the name of: Hyde Park, a Royal Park in London (the original location) Hyde Park in Sydney - a park some places in the United States of America: Hyde Park, Massachusetts Hyde Park, New York - a town in Dutchess County, New York Hyde Park, Vermont - a town Hyde...

Following the 1997 Bottom stage tour, Hooligans Island, Mayall and Edmondson worked on the idea of a Bottom film in which Richie and Eddie run a hotel. The two had been working on the script together, and were set to co-direct. However, in 1998 Mayall was seriously injured and spent a few days in a coma. Edmondson found this time very difficult. When Mayall came around he helped Edmondson complete the script while still in hospital, but it was decided that he was still not fit enough to direct, so Edmondson took the sole directing duties on what became Guest House Paradiso. Since the 2003 Bottom tour, which ended on December 12 of that year, Edmondson has shown a lack of interest in working with his friend Mayall, claiming he is more difficult to work with since his accident, also having stopped drinking alcohol altogether. In December 2004 The Daily Mirror newspaper quoted him as saying: "It’s definitely time to stop. We're getting too old. We both realised that the show wasn't as engaging as it used to be. We were starting to look a bit ridiculous. [...] We're both nearly 50 and we're starting to feel slightly undignified talking about wanking and knobs constantly."^[1] Rik Mayall has repeatedly said that they will work together again, they just needed "A good idea". 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... Guest House Paradiso is a 1999 comedy slapstick movie, starring Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson, and directed by Edmondson. ... Alternate newspaper: The Daily Mirror (Australia) The Daily Mirror is a popular British tabloid daily newspaper. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

In 2004 Edmondson starred in a different comedic role, as an incompetent surgeon in Doctors and Nurses and had a recurring part in Jonathan Creek. 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jonathan Creek is a mystery television series produced by the BBC and written by David Renwick. ...

In 2005 he was one of the celebrities taking part in Comic Relief does Fame Academy (in which he was known for his punk-style version of the song "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You") and came in third place. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Comic Relief Does Fame Academy is a spin-off of the original Fame Academy show where celebrities (students) sing as students of the Academy. ...

He directed pop videos for Fiesta (1988) by The Pogues, Prime Mover (1987) by Zodiac Mindwarp, Like The Weather (1988) by 10,000 Maniacs, Please Help The Cause Against Loneliness (1988) by Sandie Shaw, and Hourglass by Squeeze. The Pogues are a popular band of mixed Irish and English background, playing traditional Irish folk with influences from the English punk movement. ... Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction are a British hard rock group. ... 10,000 Maniacs is a United States-based alternative rock band, formed in 1981 and active with various line-ups since that time. ... Sandie Shaw, born Sandra Ann Goodrich on February 26, 1947 at Dagenham, United Kingdom, was one of the most successful British female singers of the 1960s. ... Squeeze was a British rock music band that came to prominence in the New Wave period of the late 1970s. ...

In Surviving Disaster, a BBC docu-drama about the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, broadcast at the start of 2006, Edmondson played the role of Dr Valeri Legasov, who gives his account of events. Chernobyl reactor 4 after the disaster, showing the extensive damage to the main reactor hall (image center) and turbine building (image lower left) The early stages of construction of the sarcophagus. ... Valeri Legasov (Moscow, 1946 - 1988) was a soviet scientist, the chief of the investigation committee of the Chernobyl Accident. ...

Most recently he has also made guest appearances in Holby City, starring in a semi-serious role as Consultant General Surgeon Percival "Abra" Durant, a doctor who usually works in Ghana. As of 2007, he plays his first BBC Radio 2 sitcom with Ben Elton and writer Nigel Smith called Teenage Kicks, named after the famous punk song by The Undertones. After a six-episode series which became a success, there are news of a TV series of Teenage Kicks. A pilot episode is being filmed for BBC2. Holby City is a medical drama television serial broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom. ... A consultant (from the latin consultus meaning legal expert) is a professional who provides expert advice in a particular domain or area of expertise such as accountancy, technology, the law, human resources, marketing, medicine, finance, public affairs, communication, or more esoteric areas of knowledge, for example engineering of different kinds... A surgeon operating General surgery, despite its name, is a surgical specialty that focuses on surgical treatment of abdominal organs, e. ... BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBCs national radio stations and is the most popular station in the UK. It broadcasts throughout the UK on FM radio between 88 and 91 MHz from its studios in Western House, adjacent to Broadcasting House in central London. ... Benjamin Charles Elton (born 3 May 1959) is an English comedian and writer. ... The picture cover of the Undertones 1979 Youve Got My Number (Why Dont You Use It!) single The Undertones are an Northern Irish rock band formed in Londonderry, Northern Ireland in 1975. ... BBC Two (or BBC2 as it was formerly styled) was the second UK television station to be aired by the BBC. History The channel was scheduled to begin at 7:20pm on April 20, 1964 and show an evening of light entertainment, starting with the comedy show The Alberts and...

At Jools Holland's 2006 Hootenanny, Edmonson sang and played trumpet in an inspired jazz-style cover version of The Sex Pistols Anarchy in the U.K. Julian Miles Holland, OBE (born 24 January 1958 in London) is an English virtuoso pianist, bandleader, television presenter, architectural eccentric and pop music enthusiast. ... The Sex Pistols in 1977. ... Anarchy in the U.K. (B-side I Wanna Be Me) was the first single by the punk band the Sex Pistols. ...

On February 28, 2007, BBC One broadcast a special programme Comic Relief with Edmondson travelling to Kenya to see what donations from Comic Relief do, cleverly titled "Does Africa Need Ade... Edmondson?". He then performed on the Comic Relief 2007 special Top Gear Of The Pops, playing guitar with Supergrass. February 28 is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... BBC One (styled BBC1 until 1997) is the most watched domestic channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation. ... Top Gear of The Pops is one off special Top Gear recording made specially for the Comic Relief big one appeal. ... Supergrass are an alternative rock band from Oxford, England who were at their peak in the Britpop era of the mid-1990s. ...

Trivia

• Adrian Edmondson played the Duran Duran character from Barbarella in the video for We've Got A Fuzzbox And We're Gonna Use It's 1989 Number 11 hit "International Rescue".

• When asked in an interview what he enjoyed doing in his spare time, he replied with classic Edmondson wit, "Drinking fine wine and knee-capping people."

• After being interrupted several times by a rambunctious fan after a 1988 television appearance, he responded with "I love you dearly, but would you please shut up?".

• In 1986 he was featured on the cover of Smash Hits as "Sexy Ade Edmondson" while the article inside featured him breaking into the photographer's studio and murdering Howard Jones.

• In 1996 he provided the voice for the Peperami Character in the video game, Animal. He has since provided the voice on the television adverts for the product.

• Has three daughters: Eleanor (b. 22 January 1986), Beatrice (b. 19 June 1987), and Freya (b. 16 October 1990).

• A keen fan of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Edmondson performed (vocals and trumpet) with them as part of their 2006 reformation and countrywide tour.

• Adrian has appeared in the music video for Kirsty McColl's 1983 single "Terry".

Barbarella, also known as Barbarella, Queen of the Galaxy is a 1968 erotic science fiction film, based on the French Barbarella comic book created by Jean-Claude Forest. ... Weve Got a Fuzzbox and Were Gonna Use It, or Fuzzbox for short, started out life as a punk band in the early 80s returning during the late 80s with more of a pop look and sound. ... Brains Thunderbirds is a mid-1960s Sylvia and Gerry Anderson television show which used a form of puppetry called Supermarionation. Cast, crew, and production notes Thunderbirds was the fourth and by far the most successful of the childrens series made by AP Films for the British television company ATV... Knee-capping is a form of malicious wounding used to punish enemies, or as a drastic form of torture. ... Smash Hits is a British music magazine aimed primarily at teenage girls. ... Howard Jones can refer to three different people: Howard Jones, the British pop singer. ... The current version of the article or section reads like an advertisement. ... Namcos Pac-Man was a hit, and became a cultural phenomenon. ... Animal is a video game starring the Peperami character. ... The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band (more often the Bonzo Dog Band) was the brainchild of the British art-school set of the 1960s. ... Kirsty MacColl (October 10, 1959 - December 18, 2000), the daughter of folk singer Ewan MacColl and dancer Jean Newlove, was a British pop singer-songwriter, who died tragically while saving her sons life. ...

Notes

1. ^ Report of interview in Daily Mirror entitled Rik and Ade to split up

External links

• Adrian Edmondson biography and credits at the BFI's Screenonline
• Jonathan Creek on BBCi
• Adrian Edmondson at BBCi
• The Adrian Edmondson website
• Adrian Edmondson at the Internet Movie Database