Shropshire comic pays tribute to his 'comedy hero' Rik Mayall
Comic actor Greg Davies today paid tribute to his "comedy hero" Rik Mayall who played his father in his self-penned Channel 4 sitcom Man Down.
Davies, who grew up in Wem in Shropshire, jokingly described himself as resembling a "fat, taller Rik Mayall".
It is not yet known what caused Mayall's unexpected death.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said officers were called by London Ambulance Service to a house in Barnes where "a man, aged in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene".
He added the death was not believed to be suspicious.
Mayall, who leaves his wife and three children, Rosie, Sidney and Bonnie, survived an almost fatal quad bike accident in 1998 which left him in a coma for several days.
He played Greg Davies's character's father in Man Down, despite being only 10 years older than the comedian in real life.
Referring to the role, Mayall once joked: "It means I impregnated someone when I was 12, and that's pretty rock and roll."
Inbetweeners star Davies left a statement in tribute to his co-star on his website.
He said: "I am so sad to learn of the passing of Rik.
"He was my comedy hero. I could not believe that I got the opportunity to work with him and did not stop pinching myself throughout the filming.
"He was hilarious, warm and passionate on and off camera and being in his presence was always humbling.
"I cannot imagine how devastated his family, who he spoke of with such love, will be feeling and my thoughts are with them at this terribly sad time."
Comedian John Challis, famous for Only Fools and Horses character Boycie who lives on the Shropshire border, took to Twitter to express his shock at Mayall's death.
He tweeted:
