By Ian Morgan
A British TV comedy classic, featuring a depraved politician, will be crossing over from screen to stage next month.
Rik Mayall will recreate his incarnation as depraved and selfish politician Alan B'Stard in the world premiere stage adaptation of The New Statesman.
The New Statesman was a huge television hit for four series' from 1987 to 1992.
The New Statesman – Episode 2006: The Blair B'stard Project opens on April 19 2006 at the Theatre Royal in Brighton.
The show will continue to 14 other venues on a three-month tour.
The series' writers, Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran have updated the satirical comedy for the stage.
In Episode 2006, the power-hungry B'Stard will be seen struggling for survival in Blair's New Labour cabinet.
Mayall's prolific television career includes Bottom, Blackadder, The Young Ones, The Comic Strip Presents… and All About George.
Following Brighton, The New Statesman will visit Wimbledon, Bristol, Oxford, York, Stoke on Trent, Bromley, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Reading, Plymouth, Woking and Milton Keynes, where the tour concludes on July 29.