Rik Mayall Funeral: Dawn French, Ben Elton, Jennifer Saunders, Ruby Wax Say Goodbye To 'Young Ones' Star At Private Service In Devon

RIP Rik
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Rik Mayall's funeral has taken place in Devon and was attended by many stars of the comedy and entertainment world.

Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Ben Elton and Ruby Wax were among the first famous faces seen arriving at St George's Church in Dittisham to pay their final respects to the comedian, who died last week at the age of 56.

Barbara Mayall said her family had received "thousands and thousands of messages of condolence" from around the world, following the sudden death of the much-loved comedy star.

Rik Mayall Funeral
Rik Mayall funeral(01 of21)
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Peter Richardson arrives at St George's church in Dittisham, Devon, for the funeral of Rik Mayall. (credit:PA)
Rik Mayall funeral(02 of21)
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Adrian Edmonson carries the coffin of Rik Mayall from St George's church in Dittisham, Devon, following his funeral service. (credit:PA)
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Adrian Edmonson (front right) helps carry the coffin of Rik Mayall from St George's church in Dittisham, Devon, following his funeral service. (credit:PA)
Rik Mayall funeral(04 of21)
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Adrian Edmonson (front right) helps carry the coffin of Rik Mayall from St George's church in Dittisham, Devon, following his funeral service. (credit:PA)
Rik Mayall funeral(05 of21)
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Nigel Planer arrives at St George's church in Dittisham, Devon, for the funeral of Rik Mayall. (credit:PA)
Rik Mayall funeral(06 of21)
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The order of service for Rik Mayall whose funeral was held at St George's church in Dittisham, Devon. (credit:PA)
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Adrian Edmondson smiles as he leaves St George's church in Dittisham, Devon, following the funeral of Rik Mayall. (credit:PA)
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Alexei Sayle and Adrian Edmondson (right) hug each other as they leave St George's church in Dittisham, Devon, following the funeral of Rik Mayall. (credit:PA)
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Alexei Sayle arrives at St George's church in Dittisham, Devon, for the funeral of Rik Mayall. (credit:PA)
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Nigel Planer (centre) stands with mourners as he leaves St George's church in Dittisham, Devon, following the funeral of Rik Mayall. (credit:PA)
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Alan Rickman (centre) stands with other mounrners as he leaves St George's church in Dittisham, Devon, following the funeral of Rik Mayall. (credit:PA)
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Ben Elton arrives for the funeral of Rik Mayall at St George's church in Dittisham, Devon. (credit:PA)
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Peter Richardson (left) arrives for the funeral of Rik Mayall at St George's church in Dittisham, Devon. (credit:PA)
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Jennifer Saunders arrives for the funeral of Rik Mayall at St George's church in Dittisham, Devon. (credit:PA)
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Ben Elton arrives for the funeral of Rik Mayall at St George's church in Dittisham, Devon. (credit:PA)
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Dawn French arrives for the funeral of Rik Mayall at St George's church in Dittisham, Devon. (credit:PA)
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Dawn French arrives for the funeral of Rik Mayall at St George's church in Dittisham, Devon. (credit:PA)
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Ruby Wax arrives for the funeral of Rik Mayall at St George's church in Dittisham, Devon. (credit:PA)
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Ben Elton arrives for the funeral of Rik Mayall at St George's church in Dittisham, Devon. (credit:PA)
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The exterior of St George's church in Dittisham, Devon, where the funeral of Rik Mayall will take place. (credit:PA)
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Dawn French arrives for the funeral of Rik Mayall at St George's church in Dittisham, Devon. (credit:PA)

Ahead of today's service, she asked his fans to share their "thoughts and prayers" as his family say goodbye to him at the private service.

"Knowing the swell of love you all share with us we would like to let you, the fans, know that we will be having a private family funeral for Rik, as I am sure you will understand," she said.

"We will be burying him at 2pm on Thursday June 19 if you would like to join us in thoughts and prayer at this time.

"Thank you again for all your love and support to all our family, it brings great strength."

Following his sudden death, his World Cup song, 'Noble England', from 2010 made it into the top 10 at the weekend, following a campaign by fans.

A public memorial service for the star is expected to take place in September.

Rik Mayall 1958 - 2014
British Comedy Awards 2011(01 of23)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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COMEDIAN DAVE ALLEN AT THE BRITISHCOMEDY AWARDS 1993 WITH RIK MAYALL. (credit:PA)
COMEDY AWARD WINNERS 1993(07 of23)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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PA NEWS PHOTO : 2/5/95 : COMIC ACTOR RIK MAYALL. PHOTO BY FIONA HANSON. (credit:PA)
Rik Mayall Lord of the Rings(18 of23)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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Rik Mayall in Blackadder (left)
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Rik Mayall in The Young Ones
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Rik Mayall in The Young Ones