Rik devastated by BBC casting snub

Ben Elton reveals how Mayall was hit hard by failing to get lead sitcom role

- BY MARK JEFFERIES

COMEDY legend Ben Elton has told how his pal Rik Mayall was devastated to be snubbed by the BBC just 18 months before his death.

Blackadder and The Young Ones writer Ben had in 2011 been asked to pitch a sitcom to the Beeb, and wrote health and safety satire The Wright Way. He wanted Rik for the lead and after what seemed like a successful table read of the script in 2012, thought their comedy partnership would resume.