Rik Mayall

I don't have moments of weakness. I'm Rik Mayall.

Words on the page don't have the same impact as somebody saying the words to you.

When you're an experienced celeb - which I am - you sometimes just need a bit of space, when you're not 'on'. I'm always on!

I died. Which is fantastic, because I have died already; I have been there and come back. I am completely recovered, thank you.

Something that has been important to me is never to repeat myself, never to go back.

You perform for a different audience each night. People who don't understand just think that you go out there every night and do the same thing, but you don't - you have to find out who they are and give it to them.

I've always had a problem with doing what I'm told.

Other people get moody in their forties and fifties - men get the male menopause. I missed the whole thing. I was just really happy.

With an audience it's now, there are no editors around. It's just me and the audience and it's what I like best.

I'd love Shakey Bill to tell me a story - I mean, William Shakespeare, he could squeak a nib couldn't he?

I would love to do more on the stage; having actual contact with the audience is great. You can give them a good seeing to!

As I see it, there's mainstream comedy - and then there's me, out in the badlands.