Town set to launch Rik Mayall comedy festival

Mayall, who grew up in Droitwich, Worcestershire, became one of the county's most famous performers before he died aged 56 in 2014.

A decade on from his death, admirers of the star - best known for shows like The Young Ones, The Comic Strip Presents and Bottom - gathered at the town's Norbury Theatre to discuss how they could commemorate him with a festival.

The theatre's chair Anne Lane said their current idea was to get the town's pubs and cafes involved along with lots of amateur comedians performing.

"Comedy is for everybody to have a good laugh," Ms Lane told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

The group said plans were at an early stage and while exact dates were not confirmed, they were looking to hold it in June and make it an annual event.

The theatre intended to be the venue for the final act of the festival with Ms Lane teasing that she hoped to get a "big name".

Anne Lane

Ms Lane said she was hoping to secure a "big name" for the festival's climax

"I do not know who yet, that is all in the planning but we are hoping to get a big comedian here for the climax of the festival," she said.

"I think [the festival] is encouraging to other people to pick up the baton and I think it is very, very important to make people laugh.

"A blue plaque is a blue plaque - it can be anywhere.

"But a comedy festival in Rik's name, every year, brings his memory back."

-bbc