Rik Mayall To Be Remembered With 'Bottom' Bench In London Following Campaign By Fans | HuffPost

'Bottom' Bench To Return In Memory Of Rik

Matt Bagwell— The Huffington Post UK

|

A bench matching the one featured in the opening credits of the BBC comedy 'Bottom' is to be officially installed in the same spot in London in memory of Rik Mayall.

WATCH: Rik Mayall's Greatest Comedy Creations
WATCH: Rik Mayall's 15 Funniest Moments
INTERVIEW: 'Blackadder' Producer Remembers Rik
TRIBUTES: Stars Remember Rik
PICTURE: Rik Mayall Gets The Best Blue Plaque Ever
BLOG: Our Comedy Editor On Meeting Rik Mayall

Rik, who starred in the sitcom with Adrian Edmondson between 1991 and 1995, said he was sad to see the bench had been removed shortly before his death in June.

Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson sat on the original bench in the opening credits of 'Bottom'

Now Hammersmith Council are set to replace it after more than 7000 fans successfully petitioned to have it reinstated.

The new bench will feature the inscription: "In Memory of The Man, The Myth, The Legend".

The opening credits of the BBC series show Rik's character Richie arguing with his friend Eddie, played by Adrian Edmondson before the pair start to attack each other on the original bench.

The memorial bench will be situated at the junction of Queen Caroline Street and Hammersmith Bridge Road.

Rik died in June from an 'acute cardiac event'

Actress and screenwriter Jaime Bird, 32, from West London, started the petition for the bench's return just days after Mayall's death.

She told the BBC there was an "overwhelming love and appreciation for what he did".

"Within three days we had over 1,000 signatures," she said. "We had a lot of backing from celebrities. Bill Bailey was one of the first to sign it."

Asked why she thought the petition had been so successful, she said: "I think it's because he was so well-loved.

"The nation as a whole didn't realise how much they genuinely did love him and treasure him until that moment."

Hammersmith and Fulham councillor Wesley Harcourt added: "Bottom was set here, with the opening credits filmed on a bench in Hammersmith Broadway.

"That bench was later moved, so it seems right to put a new bench near the spot in memory of a great comic actor."

Rik Mayall 1958 - 2014

British Comedy Awards 2011(01 of23)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 16: Rik Mayall attends the British Comedy Awards at Fountain Studios on December 16, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

The New Statesman - Photocall(02 of23)

LONDON - MARCH 20: Actors Rik Mayall and Marsha Fitzalan pose as their comic 1980's TV characters Alan and Sarah B'Stard as they launch the four-month UK tour of the stage adaptation of their satirical TV series ?The New Statesman - Episode 2006: The Blair B'Stard Project' outside the Houses of Parliment, Millbank on March 20, 2006 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

British Comedy Awards 2011 - London(03 of23)

Rik Mayall arrives at the British Comedy Awards at the Fountain Studios in London. (credit:PA)

Rik Mayall casting for new show - London(04 of23)

Rik Mayall as Alan B'Stard, with Cherie Blair hopefuls in central London, November 27, 2006. Rik Mayall's political alter-ego Alan B'stard is searching for his Tony and Cherie Blair. The comedy actor held an open audition at studios in London this morning to cast the roles of the Prime Minister and his wife in his new show. (credit:PA)

RIK MAYALL COMEDY AWARDS 1993(05 of23)

COMEDY ACTOR RIK MAYALL, ARRIVING ATTHE BRITISH COMEDY AWARDS 1993 CEREMONYIN LONDON [WITH UNNAMED WOMAN]. (credit:PA)

COMEDIAN DAVE ALLEN AT THE BRITI(06 of23)

COMEDIAN DAVE ALLEN AT THE BRITISHCOMEDY AWARDS 1993 WITH RIK MAYALL. (credit:PA)

COMEDY AWARD WINNERS 1993(07 of23)

SOME OF THE BRITISH COMEDY AWARDS 1993WINNERS, AFTER THE CEREMONY IN LONDON.L-R RICHARD WILSON, JENNIFER SAUNDERS,JOANNA LUMLEY AND RIK MAYALL. (credit:PA)

Rik Mayall casting for new show - London(08 of23)

Rik Mayall as Alan B'Stard outside Trafalgar Studios in central London, November 27, 2006. Rik Mayall's political alter-ego Alan B'stard is searching for his Tony and Cherie Blair. The comedy actor held an open audition at studios in London this morning to cast the roles of the Prime Minister and his wife in his new show. (credit:PA)

Rik Mayall as Alan B'Stard(09 of23)

Rik Mayall returns as 'The New Statesman', Alan B'Stard, to launch a national theatre tour, Monday 20 March 2006, outside the House of Commons, central London. The tour begings at the Theatre Royal Brighton on 19 April. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Photo Credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA. (credit:PA)

Rik Mayall as Alan B'Stard(10 of23)

Rik Mayall returns as 'The New Statesman', Alan B'Stard, with Marsha Fitzalan who plays Alan's wife Sarah, to launch a national theatre tour, Monday 20 March 2006, outside the House of Commons, central London. The tour begings at the Theatre Royal Brighton on 19 April. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Photo Credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA. (credit:PA)

Rik Mayall as Alan B'Stard(11 of23)

Rik Mayall returns, with Marsha Fitzalan who plays his wife Sarah, as 'The New Statesman', Alan B'Stard, to launch a national theatre tour, Monday 20 March 2006, outside the House of Commons, central London. The tour begings at the Theatre Royal Brighton on 19 April. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Photo Credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA. (credit:PA)

Rik Mayall as Alan B'Stard(12 of23)

Rik Mayall returns as 'The New Statesman', Alan B'Stard, to launch a national theatre tour, Monday 20 March 2006, outside the House of Commons, central London. The tour begings at the Theatre Royal Brighton on 19 April. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Photo Credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA. (credit:PA)

National Television Awards(13 of23)

Actor Rik Mayall at the National Television Awards 2005 (NTA), at the Royal Albert Hall, central London. (credit:PA)

Churchill - The Hollywood Years(14 of23)

Comedian Rik Mayall arrives for a private screening of Churchill - The Hollywood Years, at the Soho Hotel in central London. (credit:PA)

Terminator 3 - Rik Mayall(15 of23)

Rik Mayall arriving at The Odeon Leicester Square, for the British premiere of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. (credit:PA)

Jellikins/Rik Mayall(16 of23)

The Jellikins is to be launched on GMTV breakfast show. Aimed at children between two and five, the Jellikins are six happy loveable, bouncy characters who all live in Jolly Jelly World, the programme will be narrated by comic actor Rik Mayall. 04/07/03 : Actor and comedian Rik Mayall was banned from driving for 90 days, after admitting speeding on a motorway at 113mph. The 45-year-old was caught by a speed gun on the M5 motorway northbound at Weston-super-Mare on April 20. Avon and Somerset road traffic police chased his silver Mercedes car down the motorway and on to the A370 and stopped him at the Bucket and Spade pub. Mayall, of north Kensington, London, was cautioned and police officers took a statement from him which read: I accept what the police officer said and I was not concentrating enough and I thank him for the warning and I will not do it again. (credit:PA)

PA NEWS PHOTO : 2/5/95 : COMIC ACTOR RIK MAYALL. PHOTO BY FIONA HANSON....(17 of23)

PA NEWS PHOTO : 2/5/95 : COMIC ACTOR RIK MAYALL. PHOTO BY FIONA HANSON. (credit:PA)

Rik Mayall Lord of the Rings(18 of23)

Comedian Rik Mayall arriving at the Odeon Leicester Square, London, for the UK premiere of Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. (credit:PA)

Guest House/Mayall & Edmondson(19 of23)

Actors and comedians Rik Mayall (left) and Ade Edmondson, who star in the film, arrive for the celebrity screening of Guest House Paradiso, at the Warner Village Cinema in Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)

"Around The World In 80 Days" Premiere - Arrivals(20 of23)

LONDON - JUNE 22: Actor Rik Mayall arrives at the UK Film Premiere of the classic novel by Jules Verne 'Around The World In 80 Days' at Vue West End on June 22, 2004 in London. (Photo by Steve Finn/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

(21 of23)

Rik Mayall in Blackadder (left)

(22 of23)

Rik Mayall in The Young Ones

(23 of23)

Rik Mayall in The Young Ones

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

Suggest a correction

|

What's Hot

Trump Is Apparently Having Trouble Pronouncing 4-Syllable Words

Want A Better Sex Life? Then It's Time To Embrace 'Outercourse.'

When To Expect Key Results From The 2024 Local Elections

Ralf Little's Death In Paradise Replacement Has Finally Been Confirmed