PLANS for a new comedy festival celebrating legendary town funnyman Rik Mayall are moving forward.  

The 'Rik Mayall Comedy Festival' is earmarked to take place between May 31 and June 7, 2025. 

The festival bearing his name would aim to celebrate and support comedy in Droitwich. 
 
Mr Mayall was best known for his role in the hit TV show 'The Young Ones' as well as other fondly remembered programmes such as Bottom and The New Statesman. 
 
The full details of the comedy festival are set to follow in the coming months. 

It is hoped many venues in the town will host comedy performances to support the festival over the week. 
 
A community organising committee has been set up, and a preview and announcement for these arrangements is scheduled to take place this Sunday, June 9- the tenth anniversary of Mr Mayall's death. 
 
The announcement will take place at around 3.15pm adjacent to the Band Stand in Lido Park. 
 
 Mr Mayall, who passed away aged 56 in 2014, was born in Essex but moved to Droitwich aged just three with his three siblings. 

He later studied at King’s School in Worcester. 
 
He performed in the spa town’s Norbury Theatre in productions written by his drama teacher parents, John and Gillian Mayall.
 
The proud Droitwich resident even got his hometown mentioned in the first episode of Blackadder II, titled ‘Bells’, in which he starred as Lord Flashheart.

His magnum opus, The Young Ones sitcom, saw Mr Mayall star and co-write.

 It ran for two seasons between 1982 and 1984 and focused on the lives of four dissimilar students and their landlords.

Mr Mayall was once referred to by fellow comedian Stephen Fry as a ‘prince amongst men’ and an authentic comedy genius.’ 

The idea for the festival, with the family's backing, was made by Droitwich Councillor Richard Morris.

He said: "We are hoping to have a launch event in the autumn, we've got a lot of interest and are trying to organise ourselves so we manage it in the right way to bring comedy to the town and pay tribute to Riks legacy.  

"We're proud Droitwich is connected to Rik and his family. 

"His parents did a lot for Droitwich with the Norbury.

"We're trying to respect the legacy of Rik while bringing new talent to the area."