I’ve been working on the sitcom pilot and although I have some good ideas on paper, I’m reluctant to give it too much structure because I don’t want to take over as Craig and Gary are also part of it. The ideas that we’ve thrown around show promise although I’m a little worried that the pilot will use up our best material. I am also concerned that the initial joke, the ‘com’ if you will, will wear a little thin so there’s quite a case for keeping it as a one-off.

My to-do list has been thrown out of kilter as I have been going through the music for The Sunday Alternative as the new one is due this weekend. There’s an all day music event in town on Saturday so I’m hoping to get it recorded and processed before then if I can. Along with the usual music greatness there will be a tribute to Rik Mayall so I’ve been working on that too.

On the subject of Rik Mayall, I’m disappointed that there hasn’t been a proper tribute paid on television. Would it have hurt to turn BBC2 over to a handful of episodes of the sitcoms followed by a film? Could Channel Four have had a night off from decorating houses to stick on some Comic Strip Presents? I’m sure they’ll make a tribute programme and that can’t be rushed but in the meantime it would be nice to remember him at his best. Another reason I’ve fallen behind on my work is that I have been typing Rik Mayall’s name into YouTube and trying to find some rare gems; chat show appearances, adverts, standup comedy footage (I’d have loved to have seen a ‘comeback’ tour, Alexei Sayle did it and it was huge), and all sorts of weirdness. For example, I wouldn’t have imagined one of the alternative set appearing on Cannon & Ball in the 1980s, but I know it happened because YouTube told me it did. I have also learned that David Letterman can’t interview for shit, and that Mayall made a guest appearance in Snakes and Ladders, a comedy drama starring Adrian Edmondson and John Gordon-Sinclair that I had forgotten all about until I found this clip. Although the chances are that Adrian Edmondson and John Gordon-Sinclair have probably forgotten all about it too.

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