He's known for playing some of the loudest, brashest and most popular comedy characters created and now Rik Mayall is set to return to the spotlight in one of those favourite roles.
The comedian and actor was in Ipswich today to talk about the return of Alan B'Stard, the bad boy politician he played in the hugely successful television comedy, The New Statesman.
Now older, even more selfish and rude, Alan B'Stard has been resurrected in a touring stage version of the sitcom from the 1980s.
In this show, B'Stard has changed his political allegiance and has left the Conservative party behind, choosing instead to claim credit for creating New Labour.
Rik's ready to make an impact on Ipswich Written as a hugely selfish, arrogant and vain character, B'Stard has been one of the many big successes of Mayall's career.
The former Young Ones and Bottom star said he is happy to be returning to the role of B'Stard - and is excited to be bringing the show to Ipswich.
He said: "I've been here before, I came with Ben Elton and Adrian Edmondson.
"Ipswich audiences have always been good to me, we took this show on the road last year and I really don't know why we didn't come to Ipswich.
"The gag is that Alan B'Stard invented New Labour and he and Tony Blair got everything organised. Alan B'Stard has made a wonderful lot of money from the damage done to the country."
Part comedy, part play and part social commentary about modern politics, The New Statesman quickly developed a cult following when it first aired on television in 1987 and the stage show has already been hugely popular both in the West End and on a previous tour.
Mayall said: "I don't think there is a major difference between being in the audience of one of these shows and one of my live television shows.
"Though obviously there are no cameras in the way this time and the audience can be treated in a different way."
Bringing the nasty politician back to life has been a fun experience for Mayall, who has once again worked with the original writers, Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran.
He said: "I've always been committed to not doing the same role twice.
"I'm doing something unusual because I have done what I said I would never do and that is go back. But Alan is a permanent figure, he's a permanently bad person and as he's got older he's got nastier. Alan was a nasty young yuppie but he's just old and satanic now."
The New Statesman is set to be at the Regent Theatre from April 5 to 7.