The Essay: Adrian Edmondson - Signs of Life

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The Essay: Adrian Edmondson - Signs of Life (Series 2): Creativity

Creativity

Adrian Edmondson - Signs of Life (Series 2)

BBC Radio 3 - The Essay, Adrian Edmondson - Signs of Life (Series 2), Creativity

Adrian Edmonson reflects on what went wrong with the highly successful sitcom Bottom.

Adrian Edmondson looks back from his early triumph at primary school as the Angel Gabriel to what went wrong with his hugely successful television sitcom and live show, Bottom.

In this second series of essays, Adrian Edmondson finds five ways to consider moments of personal and career highs, lows and the bits in-between.

1. Creativity 
In which Adrian Edmondson looks back from his early triumph at primary school as the Angel Gabriel to what went wrong with his hugely successful television sitcom and live show, Bottom, and his relationship with Rik Mayall:

“Over thirteen years we create three series, one feature film and five two-hour live shows, it’s very satisfying... until - it isn’t anymore.  One day I look in the larder and find I’m slightly bored of this diet."

Adrian Edmondson studied drama at Manchester University where he met his comedy partner Rik Mayall. He and Rik were part of the first wave of Alternative Comedy where their glorious pursuit of laughter and anarchic performances changed the comedic landscape forever. He starred as Vyvyan in The Young Ones, the series that blasted its way onto our screens tearing into our preconceptions of what television comedy could be.   It was followed by Bottom which ran for three series on BBC television, had a spin-off film (Guest Hotel Paradiso), and became a live show.  

Adrian's career has since taken him into 'straight' acting as well, at the RSC, BBC TV’s War and Peace and EastEnders. He is a writer of books for adults and children; and co-wrote the television series Teenage Kicks.  He has had an award-winning music career with his band The Bad Shepherds which fused punk and folk.  And he is an award-winning music video producer. 

Written and read by Adrian Edmondson
Produced by Caroline Raphael
Recorded by Shane O’Byrne at The Soundhouse
Edited by Nick Manasseh at The Yard
A Dora Production for BBC Radio 3

The Essay: Adrian Edmondson - Signs of Life (Series 2)

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Five reflections on his life by Adrian Edmondson: comedian, actor and writer.

In this second series of essays, comedian, actor and writer Adrian Edmondson finds five ways to consider moments of personal and career highs, lows and the bits in-between.

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