Rik Mayall (Richard Richard)

Rik was born in Droitwich, near Birmingham, ENGLAND on March 7th 1958. His very first acting role was at the tender age of 6, when he appeared as an extra in a crowd scene in his father's production of The Good women of Setzuan. He didn't get on the stage again until three years later when he was nine, and appeared as the boy in Waiting for God. It wasn't then until much later that he took up acting seriously, in collage where he met Adrian Edmondson.

In the 70's whilst they attended college in Manchester Rik and Adrian then attempted to form a comedy group called the twentieth Century Coyote. There were originally three other members, but they soon left and the Twentieth Century Coyote eventually just became a partnership between the two. That partnership exists to this present day and is one of the most original and successful partnerships in modern day comedy.

The duo often appeared on Saturday nights, at a comedy club called The Comedy Store. But they got their first real break at another club called The comic Strip. This club was also a launching ground of other well know comedy legends, such as French & Saunders.

Rik's first real Television appearance in the U.K was when he co-wrote, and played the character of Kevin Turvey on A kick up the 80's. From this initial fame, he then went on to co-write and star as Rik one of a foursome (including Adrian as the character Vivian) of students in The young ones. A very popular and well-known adult comedy.

Since doing the young ones Rik has appeared in plenty more T.V shows and films. Some of the most famous are, Bottom (also co-starring Adrian again); The new statesman in which Rik portrayed Tony MP Alan B'stard with a wicked sense of satire and the film Drop dead Fred another comedy, in which Rik played the interesting character of Fred, an imaginary friend.

Rik married former make-up artist Barbara in 1985 and have three children together Rose, Bonnie and Sydney.

Adrian Edmondson (Eddie Hitler)

Ade was born on January 24 1957 in Bradford. He lived with his father, who taught abroad for the Armed Forces. At the age of 12 he entered Pocklington Public (i.e. privately-funded) boarding school, and afterwards went to Manchester University to study studio drama. There he met Rik Mayail and formed the partnership that was to become Twentieth Century Coyote. In 1977 he took a one-man show to the National Student Drama Festival, and Twentieth Century Coyote appeared at the Edinburgh Festival to great critical acclaim and media interest.

After Edinburgh came a period of touring with various two-man shows throughout Britain, until Adrian joined the number of talented artists then appearing at London's Comedy Store. Throughout 1979 and 1980, Ade made numerous appearances on the growing comedy circuit before going on to co-found The Comic Strip at the Boulevard Theatre in late 1980.

Adrian scripted one and played leading parts in all episodes of "The Comic Strip Presents". He went on to play `Vyvyan' in BBC TV's hugely successful "The Young Ones", written by his Twentieth Century Coyote partner and star Rik Mayall, Ben Elton and Lise Mayer.

In 1989, Adrian starred alongside John Gordon-Sinclair in "Snakes and Ladders", a six-part series for Yorkshire TV directed by Baz Taylor, before playing a guest lead, Von Richtofen, in BBC TV's BLACKADDER GOES FORTH.