Rik Mayall returns with Bottom-based show

Rik Mayall. Photo / Twitter

The boys from Bottom are back in a new show which sees Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson revive their cult characters Richie Rich and Eddie Hitler.

The pair have swapped their filthy flat for the sandy shores of a tropical island in the six-part series.

"It's been a while since I last worked with that complete bastard Rik Mayall and I'm very much looking forward to bashing him about the head with various blunt objects. It's the only language he understands," said Edmondson.

The show, called Hooligans Island, will air on BBC2 in the UK next year.

Bottom originally screened for three seasons between 1991-1995 and was ranked 45th in a BBC poll searching for Britain's best sitcom.

It is one of a series of new comedy commissions announced at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, including David Mitchell and Robert Webb in Our Men.

The show, billed as a comedy drama, stars Mitchell as the British ambassador in the fictional country of Tazbekistan and Webb as a devious diplomat.

Another show sees Father Ted writer Graham Linehan team up with Steve Delaney to bring the comic's creation Count Arthur Strong to television.

The character, a pompous self-styled showbusiness legend, will feature in six half-hour episodes.

Executive producer Gregor Sharp said: "We are absolutely delighted to see Graham and Steve join the immensely talented group of writers and comedians making brilliant shows across the BBC channels."

- PAA