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Quiz about Rik Mayall
Quiz about Rik Mayall

Rik Mayall Trivia Quiz


Rik Mayall; one of the original British 'alternative comedians' of the 'eighties, star of many TV productions and movies and a guy with a number one hit single to his name. How well do you know him?

A multiple-choice quiz by Mutchisman. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Mutchisman
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
301,549
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
613
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 90 (10/10), Guest 86 (8/10), Guest 109 (8/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Where did Rik Mayall first meet his great friend and fellow comic Ade Edmondson? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. One of Rik Mayall's first television roles was as his creation of hapless private investigator Kevin Turvey.
In which TV sketch show did Kevin Turvey first make his appearance?
Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Kevin Turvey proved such a successful character that the BBC gave him a one-off special spoof documentary called "Kevin Turvey - The Man Behind the Green Door". In which Worcestershire town was this set? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. In 1981 Rik Mayall made his first movie appearance although it was hardly a starring role; he had two lines in "An American Werewolf in London". Which of these characters did he play? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. In 1982 the newly formed Channel Four TV station were on the lookout for rising comedy stars. They commissioned Rik Mayall, Ade Edmondson, Peter Richardson, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and several others to create which comedy series? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. 1982 was also the year that saw the start of "The Young Ones". Rik Mayall, Ade Edmondson, Nigel Planer and Christopher Ryan teamed up to play four unlikely students sharing a house together. I say students but college or any college work hardly featured in the series. Which of these courses was Rik's character Rick supposed to be studying? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Following the success of "The Young Ones" the four main characters teamed up with Cliff Richard in 1986 to produce a charity record for Comic Relief.
Which one of Cliff's old hits did they cover?
Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. In 1985 Rik Mayall married which of these women? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Rik Mayall did NOT appear as a main character in which of these TV comedies? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Rik Mayall suffered a serious and potentially life-threatening injury in 1998.
How were these injuries caused?
Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 14 2024 : Guest 90: 10/10
Feb 25 2024 : Guest 86: 8/10
Feb 21 2024 : Guest 109: 8/10
Feb 08 2024 : Guest 31: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Where did Rik Mayall first meet his great friend and fellow comic Ade Edmondson?

Answer: University of Manchester

Rik was born in 1958 in Essex but his family moved to Droitwich Spa in Worcestershire when he was still young. He went to school in Worcester but he didn't meet up with Ade Edmondson until he went to the University of Manchester in 1976. The two became firm friends and discovered they both had a love for the more surreal elements of comedy. Thy started performing in university bars and clubs and quickly established a reputation for being one of the more bizarre acts.
2. One of Rik Mayall's first television roles was as his creation of hapless private investigator Kevin Turvey. In which TV sketch show did Kevin Turvey first make his appearance?

Answer: A Kick up the Eighties

"A Kick up the Eighties" was a BBC sketch show which ran between 1981 - 84. Rik Mayall's Kevin Turvey was one of the show's most popular characters with his rambling monologues about mundane subjects. As well as helping to promote Rik to a wider audience "A Kick up the Eighties" also helped bring the likes of Robbie Coltrane, Richard Stilgoe and Tracey Ullman to greater public acclaim.
"Naked Video" was a BBC sketch show from Scotland which ran between 1986 - 91. Amongst those whose careers it helped to launch were Helen Lederer and Gregor Fisher whose brilliant creation Rab C Nesbitt had his origins here.
"Not the Nine O' Clock News" ran between 1979 - 82 and is where Rowan Atkinson, Pamela Stephenson, Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones all first came to fame.
"The Fast Show" ran from 1994 - 97 and featured a mix of established stars and new faces including Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, Simon Day, Mark Williams, John Thomson, Arabella Weir and Caroline Aherne.
3. Kevin Turvey proved such a successful character that the BBC gave him a one-off special spoof documentary called "Kevin Turvey - The Man Behind the Green Door". In which Worcestershire town was this set?

Answer: Redditch

Rik Mayall played alongside Ade Edmondson and Robbie Coltrane (I wonder what became of him?) in this very funny film. Kevin Turvey lived with his mother and her boyfriend on a housing estate in the new town of Redditch. He 'investigated' several burning issues such as why the park-keeper was walking on the grass to place 'Keep off the Grass' signs, which species of fish lived in the canal and the history of The Battle of Redditch (there wasn't one!).
4. In 1981 Rik Mayall made his first movie appearance although it was hardly a starring role; he had two lines in "An American Werewolf in London". Which of these characters did he play?

Answer: A local in the The Slaughtered Lamb public house

"An American Werewolf in London" featured David Naughton and Griffin Dunne as two young American men on a trip to Europe. They discover a rather disturbing secret whilst exploring the Yorkshire Moors in northern England. Rik played a rather manic unnamed local in the less than welcoming Yorkshire pub The Slaughtered Lamb.

He had two lines: "Hear, hear!" in the middle of Brian Glover's joke about The United Nations and he repeated the punchline "Remember the Alamo" before spraying beer everywhere.

Other than a few more knowing (and menacing) looks, that was it.
5. In 1982 the newly formed Channel Four TV station were on the lookout for rising comedy stars. They commissioned Rik Mayall, Ade Edmondson, Peter Richardson, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and several others to create which comedy series?

Answer: The Comic Strip Presents...

"The Comic Strip Presents..." was first aired in 1982 with the celebrated Enid Blyton parody "Five go Mad in Dorset" although Rik didn't appear in that episode. Originally planned for six episodes it actually ran for five series plus several specials and a full length movie about the miners strike in Great Britain. The cast changed for each episode but featured most of the rising stars of British comedy. The themes were wide ranging and included skits of spaghetti westerns, war films, documentaries and film noir genres.

"Saturday Night Live" is probably best remembered for launching Harry Enfield's Kebab shop-owner Stavros onto an unsuspecting public. "OTT" ("Over the Top") was an attempt to bring the cult Saturday morning kids show "TISWAS" to an adult audience. Although many of the same stars appeared such as Chris Tarrant and Lenny Henry it was never really too successful. "The Tube" was a groundbreaking music show from Channel Four. Various comics would often put in an appearance on the show.
6. 1982 was also the year that saw the start of "The Young Ones". Rik Mayall, Ade Edmondson, Nigel Planer and Christopher Ryan teamed up to play four unlikely students sharing a house together. I say students but college or any college work hardly featured in the series. Which of these courses was Rik's character Rick supposed to be studying?

Answer: Sociology

Rik was supposed to be studying sociology but rarely attended lectures or made any pretence at doing any work. He fancied himself more of a "people's poet, sent to save the kids" than someone who studied human behaviour. Vyv would refer to Rik as a "wimpy sociology student". Vyvyan (Ade Edmondson) was supposedly studying medicine whilst Neil (Nigel Planer) was a student on the peace studies course. Mike (Christopher Ryan) didn't appear to study anything at all but apparently bribed his way towards qualifications. "The Young Ones" only ran for two series (twelve episodes) the apparent death of all four students in the final scenes ensured there was never to be any subsequent series.
7. Following the success of "The Young Ones" the four main characters teamed up with Cliff Richard in 1986 to produce a charity record for Comic Relief. Which one of Cliff's old hits did they cover?

Answer: Living Doll

The character of Rik from "The Young Ones" had idolised Cliff Richard so when the cast decided to produce a charity single they asked Cliff if he would help out. To his credit Cliff agreed although the contrast between his squeaky clean image and the (supposed) students' life of squalor and violence could hardly have been greater.

The ensuing cover of "Living Doll" topped the UK charts in March 1986.
8. In 1985 Rik Mayall married which of these women?

Answer: Barbara Robbin

Rik and Barbara had first met when filming "A Kick up the Eighties" in 1981. They were married in 1985 and have three children; Rosie, Sydney and Bonnie.
Jennifer Saunders is married to Rik's friend Ade Edmondson.

Dawn French is married to comedian and actor Lenny Henry. Helen Lederer has appeared many times with French and Saunders and has been married twice.
9. Rik Mayall did NOT appear as a main character in which of these TV comedies?

Answer: If You See God, Tell Him

"If You See God, Tell Him" was a short (four episodes) comedy series starring Ade Edmondson, Richard Briers and Imelda Staunton. It featured Briers as a man whose mind has been impaired by an accident and whose attention span is limited to 30 seconds - exactly the length of time of most TV adverts. It was broadcast in 1994 and was not well-received by the critics (but I liked it).
In "Bottom" Rik and Ade pretty much reprised their "Young Ones" roles although their characters were probably even more depraved and known as Richie and Eddie.

"Filthy Rich and Catflap" starred Rik and Ade again ably supported by former 'Young One' Nigel Planer. Rik played an out of work actor always optimistic of a big break. Ade played his hopeless drunken mate and Nigel Planer played his even more hopeless agent. In "The New Statesman" Rik played scheming politician Alan B'Stard. This show did receive critical acclaim although it was one of the few of Rik's vehicles I didn't enjoy so much.
10. Rik Mayall suffered a serious and potentially life-threatening injury in 1998. How were these injuries caused?

Answer: A quad-bike accident at home

In April 1998 Rik was riding his quad-bike at his home in Devon. There had been heavy rain in the area and Rik had refused to take his daughter Bonnie for a ride due to the conditions. Some while later his wife Barbara noticed Rik lying motionless near his overturned quad-bike. Rik was rushed to hospital with serious head injuries where he remained unconscious for five days.

This was followed by a slow recovery but it took many months before Rik was back to anything like his former self.
Source: Author Mutchisman

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor skunkee before going online.
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