BBC to air unbroadcast comedy

An audio comedy written by Rik Mayall is to be broadcast for the first time on what would have been the comedian's 57th birthday.

Mayall also stars in The Last Hurrah - Interview with the Snowman, playing the title character, a 'war-mongering, immortal, immoral tyrant' of a snowman. It is a role he described as his last great character.

The show will air in two parts, first at 11.30pm on March 7, and the second a week later, on Radio 4 Extra.

The show also stars Duncan Pow as Ed Mullet, an eager young ghostwriter tasked with interviewing Elton for his memoirs. Elton invites Ed to The Last Hurrah, a notorious, 'disgusting' gentlemen's club.

The series was recorded in 2012 and previously released as a six-part download and on CD, and has now been adapted for the BBC.

Writing on their Facebook page, producers said 'hardcord fans might be disappointed' with the edited 'BBC-friendly' version of the show.

They said the corporation previously tuned down the show for being 'too rude', but added: 'We are incredibly excited about it, particularly as Rik always said: "You can't say Cunt on the BBC," and we've managed to sneak one in for him.

'This two-parter works extremely well on its own and is a great sampler for new fans to come and try the original episodes. Rik would have been very pleased, and we thank the BBC for agreeing to air part one on Rik's birthday. Hurrah!'

Radio 4 Extra is also repeating other Mayall programmmes to coincide with his birthday: Rik Mayall’s Bedside Tales (five parts, beginning Monday March 9 at 9pm) and A Higher Education (Tuesday March 10 at 11.15am).

Published: 20 Feb 2015