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The Talking Bottom podcast will host a one-off live show at the Edinburgh Fringe this August joined by a very special guest – actor and comedian Lee Cornes, Bottom’s sneering pub landlord ‘Dick Head’.
Talking Bottom (‘Podcast of the Week’ – the Guardian) began in 2018 to celebrate Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson’s outrageous 90s hit BBC sitcom, Bottom. Written by and starring much-loved anarchic comedy double act Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson, Bottom combined nob gags, Beckettian nihilist humour and cartoon-style slapstick that continues to delight and disgust audiences today.
Over 30 years since reprobates Richie and Eddie first hit TV screens, podcast presenters Paul Tanter, Angela Pearson and Mat Brooks have not only started the popular podcast but have penned the companion book Talking Bottom: A Guide To The Cult Sitcom. Now, they are taking their passion for Bottom on the road to the Edinburgh Fringe with one of the major stars of the show Lee Cornes as their interviewee.
Hitting the comedy circuit as a stand-up in 1980, Lee Cornes was instrumental in the birth of alternative comedy. He was one of the very first acts to perform at London’s iconic The Comedy Store before becoming one of its regular comperes. Lee was cited as one of fellow comedian Sean Lock’s biggest comedic influences.
Lee Cornes made memorable TV appearances in three series of Blackadder and played ‘Paranoia’ in Red Dwarf series one, but he is most recognisable to comedy fans from his starring role of snide barman ‘Dick Head’ in three series of Bottom. He was also cast in The Young Ones, Filthy Rich & Catflap, The Comic Strip Presents…, and had a lead role in children’s drama Grange Hill as Mr. Geoff Hankin for over a decade.
Talking Bottom’s Ange, Mat and Paul said: “Rik and Ade shaped our funny bones with their frying pan wielding violence and rude wordplay. We hope fellow comedy fans will join us for a unique interview with comedy legend Lee Cornes. We’ll probe Lee about his early gigs at The Comedy Store in the 80s, his roles in Red Dwarf and The Young Ones and, of course, his time playing swindling no-good pub landlord Dick Head in the greatest sitcom ever made – Bottom.”
Fans have just one chance to see Talking Bottom LIVE with special guest Lee Cornes at Underbelly Bristo Square at 3.10pm on Sunday 24 August this Edinburgh Festival Fringe. To book tickets please visit underbellyedinburgh.co.uk
Paul Tanter is a film/TV director and film journalist; Angela Pearson is a comedy publicist, writer and journalist; and Mat Brooks is an editor, director and comedian. Together they created the Talking Bottom podcast in memory of Rik Mayall, and to celebrate their favourite sitcom. The first Talking Bottom LIVE, featuring Bottom Director and Producer Ed Bye, sold-out within hours at The Rik Mayall Comedy Festival 2025.
The trio have co-authored the new book Talking Bottom: A Guide To The Cult Sitcom celebrating the legacy of TV’s greatest losers, Richie and Eddie, with episode-by-episode analysis, unseen photos, draft script excerpts and interview snippets with Bottom’s cast and crew. Follow @TalkingBottom for more information.
Listing Information
Title: Talking Bottom LIVE
Venue: Underbelly Bristo Square (Ermintrude)
Ed Fringe link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/talking-bottom-live
Underbelly Link: https://underbellyedinburgh.co.uk/event/talking-bottom-live
Fringe Venue Number: 302
Date: Sunday 24 August
Time: 3.10pm
Duration: 1 hour
Entry: £12.50
Age: 12+