Adrian Edmondson
Adrian Edmondson was born in Bradford, Yorkshire. He went to Manchester University to study drama. Whilst he was there he met Rik Mayall, and the pair began performing as 20th Century Coyote. The act continued after university when Adrian & Rik moved to London, and they became two of the leading lights in the new 'alternative comedy' scene, performing at the newly established Comedy Store, and setting up their own club, The Comic Strip, with 'Peter Richardson', Nigel Planer, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, and Alexei Sayle. This spawned two 1980s TV series: The Young Ones (1982), and The Comic Strip Presents... (1982) In the 1990's Ade & Rik continued their partnership with a new series called Bottom (1991), which ran for three seasons and became a major success on the live circuit. It was basically a live sitcom, liberally sprinkled with slapstick humour, and the pair did 5 long tours between 1993 and 2003. Simultaneously, Adrian established himself as an actor, doing two improvised TV films under the Screen One and Screen Two umbrella, with director Les Blair: Screen Two: Honest, Decent and True (1986), and Screen One: News Hounds (1990) (winner of the BAFTA for best single drama). He was a regular in the hospital drama Holby City (1999) from 2005 - 2008. He took the lead in a drama documentary about the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster in the series Surviving Disaster (2006), and appeared as Henry Austen in the TV movie Miss Austen Regrets (2008), the film Blood (2012), and the drama series Prey (2014). But his most notable dramatic role to date is that of Count Rostov in the BBC series War & Peace (2016).
Known For
Credits
- 2025 · Alien: Earth as Atom Eins
- 2024 · Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story as Phil
- 2024 · Bottom: Exposed as Himself
- 2024 · 3 Body Problem as Denys Porlock
- 2022 · A Spy Among Friends as Sir Roger Hollis
- 2021 · The Pact as Richard
- 2020 · Out of Her Mind as Lewis
- 2020 · Between the Covers as Self
- 2019 · Cheat as William Vaughan
- 2018 · Celebrity Catchphrase as Self - Contestant
- 2018 · Save Me as Gideon Charles
- 2017 · Star Wars: The Last Jedi as Captain Peavey
- 2017 · Bancroft as Superintendent Cliff Walker
- 2017 · Richard Osman's House of Games as Self - Contestant
- 2017 · Interlude In Prague as Herr Luptak
- 2017 · The Rizen as Interviewer
- 2017 · Genius as David Hilbert
- 2017 · Urban Myths as Leslie Conn
- 2016 · One of Us as Peter Elliot
- 2016 · Upstart Crow as Dogberry
- 2016 · War and Peace as Ilya Rostov
- 2014 · Ronja the Robber's Daughter as Noodle Pete (voice, English version)
- 2014 · Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled as Self
- 2014 · Prey as DCI Warner
- 2013 · Catchphrase as
- 2012 · Gadget Man as
- 2012 · Blood as Tom Tiernan
- 2012 · The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff as Headmaster Wackville
- 2012 · The Great Sport Relief Bake Off as Self - Contestant
- 2011 · Ade in Britain as
- 2011 · Death in Paradise as Charles Crabtree
- 2010 · Monte Carlo or Bust as
- 2009 · Let's Dance for Comic Relief as Self - Contestant
- 2008 · Blackadder's Most Cunning Moments as Baron von Richthoven/Self
- 2008 · Teenage Kicks as
- 2008 · Miss Austen Regrets as Henry Austen
- 2007 · The Alan Titchmarsh Show as Self
- 2007 · Would I Lie to You? as Self
- 2007 · Britain's Got More Talent as Self
- 2007 · The Graham Norton Show as Self
- 2006 · The One Show as Self - Guest
- 2006 · School's Out as Self
- 2006 · Great British Menu as Self - Guest Judge
- 2006 · Surviving Disaster as
- 2005 · Twisted Tales as
- 2004 · Doctors and Nurses as
- 2003 · Celebrity Mastermind as
- 2003 · Spine Chillers as
- 2003 · Comic Relief Does Fame Academy as
- 2002 · The Best of French & Saunders as Various
- 1999 · Guest House Paradiso as Eddie
- 1997 · Captain Star as
- 1997 · Jonathan Creek as Brendan Baxter
- 1997 · Midsomer Murders as Hugo Welles
- 1995 · Look at the State We're In! as Dewhurst
- 1995 · The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Treasure of the Peacock's Eye as Zyke
- 1994 · Ready Steady Cook as Self - Guest
- 1994 · Anna Lee as Dominic Jones
- 1993 · If You See God, Tell Him as Gordon Spry
- 1993 · Demonella as Sid Vicious
- 1993 · Space Virgins from Planet Sex as 'K' / Air Traffic Controller
- 1992 · Absolutely Fabulous as Hamish
- 1992 · Red Nose of Courage as John Major/Coco the Clown
- 1991 · Pebble Mill as Self
- 1991 · Bottom as Edward Elizabeth Hitler
- 1991 · The Pope Must Die as Father Rookie
- 1990 · Rita Rudner as
- 1990 · South Atlantic Raiders: Part 2 Argie Bargie! as Billy
- 1990 · GLC: The Carnage Continues as Billy/Prince Charles/Giles Cricket Bat Portland
- 1989 · Snakes and Ladders as Giles Tewkesbury
- 1989 · Happy Families as
- 1989 · Press Gang as Simon Knowles
- 1989 · The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball as Self
- 1988 · An Audience With Victoria Wood as Self
- 1988 · This Morning as Self
- 1988 · The Yob as Michael
- 1988 · More Bad News as Vim Fuego
- 1988 · The Strike as Adrian/Slim/Policeman
- 1987 · Eat the Rich as Charles
- 1987 · Going Live! as Self
- 1987 · French & Saunders as James Macaroon
- 1987 · French & Saunders as John
- 1987 · Hardwicke House as Tiny
- 1987 · Filthy Rich & Catflap as Edward Catflap
- 1986 · Saturday Live as
- 1986 · Private Enterprise as Brian
- 1986 · The Dangerous Brothers as Sir Adrian Dangerous
- 1986 · Consuela (or, The New Mrs Saunders) as John
- 1986 · Dangerous Brothers Present: World of Danger as Sir Adrian Dangerous
- 1985 · Happy Families as Guy Fuddle
- 1984 · Slags as Ace
- 1984 · Gino: Full Story and Pics as Gordon/Bill
- 1984 · Susie as Martin
- 1983 · Five Go Mad on Mescalin as Dick
- 1983 · Natural World as Narrator
- 1983 · Blackadder as Baron von Richtoven
- 1983 · Summer School as Peter
- 1983 · Bad News as Vim Fuego/Alan Metcalfe
- 1983 · Dead on Time as Fool
- 1982 · The Young Ones as Vyvyan
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Dennis Carter
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Dick
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Desmond
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Mike/Hatchett/Julio/Bolsen/Man in Cage/Jenkins/Zarkoff
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Brian
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Vim Fuego
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Ace
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Eddie Monsoon
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as John
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Bean
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Peter
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Billy
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Martin
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Gordon/Bill
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Dreamy Time Escort
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Adrian/Slim/Policeman
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Michael
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Billy/Prince/Giles Cricket Bat Portland
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as 2nd MI5 Man/Fan
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as 'K'/Air Traffic Controller
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as John Major - Coco the Clown
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Bestman
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Gregory Dawson
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Sid Vicious
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Ian
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Ian Crisp
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as Adrian Dangerous
- 1982 · The Comic Strip Presents... as
- 1982 · Five Go Mad in Dorset as Dick
- 1982 · Kevin Turvey: The Man Behind the Green Door as Keith Marshall
- 1981 · The Comic Strip as
- 1980 · Boom Boom... Out Go the Lights as
- 1978 · An Audience with... as Self
- Future · Ade at Sea as Self
- 2023 · imagine... French & Saunders: Pointed, Bitchy, Bitter as Self
- 2021 · The Trick as Edward Acton
- 2021 · Letters Live from the Archive: Union Chapel as Self
- 2020 · King Rocker as Self (archive footage)
- 2019 · Completely Bad News as Vim Fuego
- 2019 · The Rizen: Possession as The Interviewer
- 2018 · How The Young Ones Changed Comedy as
- 2018 · RSC Live: Twelfth Night as Malvolio
- 2015 · Rocky Horror Show Live as Narrator
- 2012 · Five Go to Rehab as Dick
- 2008 · Rocky Horror Tribute Show as Brad
- 2008 · The Dangerous Brothers - Dangervision as Sir Adrian Dangerous
- 2007 · If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story as Self - Narrator
- 2007 · The Making of 'The Young Ones' as Self (Archived Footage)
- 2006 · The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band: 40th Anniversary Celebration as Self
- 2005 · The Comic Strip - A Retrospective as Self
- 2004 · Bottom Mindless Violence as Eddie
- 2003 · Bottom Live 2003: Weapons Grade Y-Fronts Tour as Edward Hitler
- 2001 · Bottom Live 2001: An Arse Oddity as Eddie
- 2000 · Four Men in a Plane as Ian Crisp
- 1999 · The Making of 'Guest House Paradiso' as Himself
- 1999 · Big Bottom Live - The Best of Bottom Live as
- 1998 · Jack and the Beanstalk: The ITV Pantomime as Dame Dolly
- 1998 · Four Men in a Car as Ian
- 1997 · Bottom Live 3: Hooligan's Island as Eddie Hitler
- 1996 · Bottom Fluff as
- 1995 · Bottom Live 2: The Big Number 2 Tour as Eddie
- 1993 · Bottom Live: The Stage Show as Eddie
- 1993 · Gregory: Diary of a Nutcase as Gregory Dawson
- 1990 · News Hounds as Phil Burke
- 1990 · Les Dogs as Best Man
- 1990 · Oxford as 2nd MI5 Man / Fan
- 1990 · South Atlantic Raiders: Part 1 as Billy
- 1989 · Just Like That! as Self
- 1988 · Mr Jolly Lives Next Door as Dreamy Time Escort
- 1986 · The Comic Relief Utterly Utterly Rude Video Live as
- 1986 · Honest Decent & True as Alun Pickersgill
- 1985 · The Supergrass as Dennis Carter
- 1984 · Eddie Monsoon - a Life? as Eddie Moonson
- 1984 · A Fistful of Travellers' Cheques as Billy
- 1984 · Dirty Movie as Bean
- 1983 · The Beat Generation as Desmond
- 1983 · War as Various Roles
- 1976 · The Secret Policeman's Ball as Self