Bottom co-star on their old relationship

Helen Lederer has revealed that she had a fling with Rik Mayall in their youth.

The comics appeared together in several comedies, including The Young Ones and Bottom.

And on a podcast about the latter, the 67-year-old was asked about filming a sex scene in which she played a Moldovan viscountess seducing Mayall’s character.

‘Well, it’s interesting when you look back,’ she replied. ‘I’d already connected with Rik before, off screen, from Edinburgh. So I knew him in that way, so it was a case of just being very professional

‘What I loved about Rik was that he was a very modern man, he was a gentleman - he would give a nod and wink to any past. He wouldn’t hide anything - some men would - he was just very open.

‘I didn’t think, "Oh, lucky me, I’ve got a sex scene," because I’d already had that’

And she praised- who died aged 56 in June 2014 – as ‘a unique player, person - unbelievable.’

The Talking Bottom podcast is available here.

Published: 17 Dec 2021