WILL RIK AND ADE TOUR WITH BOTTOM AGAIN?

In early 2003 Rik said the BBC wasn't interested in Bottom anymore. However, Rik said there would be future Bottom live tours and he and Ade would continue the franchise that way.

The Bottom 5: Weapons Grade Y-Fronts tour took place at the end of 2003, and Rik told fans there'd definitely be a Bottom Live 6. However, about halfway through the tour, Ade gave a few interviews in which he stated he didn't want to continue with Bottom after the tour was over. He also said he wanted a break from working on the same old stuff with Rik.

Different magazines and newspapers reported the Ade quotes differently. Some made it sound as if a full on split is on between Rik and Ade, while others gave the impression they're just taking a simple break from working with each other.

On December 1st, 2003, after the Bottom: Mindless Violence DVD was released, an interview with Ade appeared in the Daily Mirror stating  he and Rik were retiring their partnership. In interviews the week before, Ade said that he and Rik had a project idea in mind -- but they'd have to wait about 15 years to do it, as it required them to be older.

In recent interviews, Rik has stated that Ade's decision was a surprise to him, but he's okay with it and accepts it.

The final outcome of this state of affairs is anyone's guess!