The Young Ones’ Nigel Planer says Adrian Edmondson “regrets” falling out with late Rik Mayall before death

by

Nigel Planer’s mother often mixed him up with Neil, the hippie character he played in the 1982 sitcom The Young Ones. He jokes that while she usually remembered his name, she assumed he was a vegetarian just because Neil was. He adds that even some of his friends have made the same mistake.

It’s not unusual for an actor to become strongly associated with a famous role. However, this performer’s diverse career – including roles in shows like Blackadder, stage musicals, writing poetry and plays, and over 100 episodes of The Magic Roundabout – suggests it might be frustrating to be known primarily for just one part, don’t you think?

Many comedians prefer to avoid discussing their past work, and my friend Adrian – who played Vyvyan in The Young Ones – embodies that approach. He feels that something from 45 years ago shouldn’t define his present, and he’s happy to move on. While that works well for him, I personally find it hard to leave the past behind.

Whenever we’re out together, he manages to avoid interacting with people, but I always seem to strike up conversations. I think it’s either because I’m tall – I’m six foot three – or because I have a really noticeable face. He can just walk by unnoticed, while I still get people shouting ‘Neil, Neil, orange peel’ – a running joke from the show – at me multiple times a day.

Honestly, I just don’t get the negativity. It reminds me of watching Dad’s Army – those actors probably felt put on the spot sometimes, but I absolutely adore those characters. If I could make just a fraction of the joy I get from watching Ian Lavender as Pike – seriously, the line ‘Don’t tell him, Pike!’ gets me every time – then I’d feel like I’d accomplished something truly wonderful.

I was really looking forward to reading Planer’s memoir, and it didn’t disappoint! He dedicates a good portion to his most iconic role – the book’s title, Young Once, actually comes from the show itself. But honestly, the man’s lived a life. Three marriages, a grandfather before thirty, and get this – he’s been a bellringer and a gravedigger! He even performed on Top of the Pops! He calls the book a coming-of-age story, which is funny because he jokes he’s 72 and finally coming of age. But at its heart, it’s a beautiful love letter to his third wife, Roberta – they were first loves, but it took until 2013 for them to finally tie the knot. It’s a really charming and unexpectedly moving read.

Reading about Planer and his fellow cast members’ wild youth is highly entertaining. They were incredibly famous – at one point, fans were throwing underwear on stage – but the book reveals the attention became much stranger, with people sending bizarre requests and even unusual packages in the mail.

Planer recalls difficult times just as clearly as the good ones – a trait that often leads people to mistake him for the gloomy Neil. He even admits to having a somewhat pessimistic side, sharing a story about buying Christmas gifts for his team that they didn’t even take with them. However, despite this, his book – and his life – ultimately have a positive and uplifting message, culminating in his happy marriage to Roberta after many years of being separated. He embraces this, cheerfully admitting, “My life is cheesy,” without apology.

The wedding provided a heartwarming story about Edmondson and his comedy partner, Rik Mayall. Most comedy duos argue, with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders being a rare exception, and Rik and Ade weren’t even speaking at the time. However, they intentionally seated the pair together at the wedding, and they ended up laughing hysterically together.

It was so sad when Rik passed away, especially because he and Ade weren’t speaking at the time. Ade really regretted that, but thankfully we have photos that show they still found ways to make each other laugh, even when things were tough between them.

For Planer, the wedding feels like a happy ending, something straight out of a romantic comedy. He admits he dated a lot of people between his previous marriages – and even after them. ‘I interviewed many potential partners,’ he jokes.

He believes he’s always struggled with understanding and managing emotions, but feels he’s recently made some progress in developing those skills – a bit like a late bloomer, as Neil would say.

  • Young Once by Nigel Planer is available now

Authors

Ed GrenbyAssociate Editor, TopMob

Read More

2026-01-12 20:08