Adrian Edmondson
Biography
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

Midsomer Murders

Death in Paradise

The Graham Norton Show

Holby City

The One Show

3 Body Problem

Ready, Steady, Cook

Absolutely Fabulous
All Movies (86)
- Bottom: Exposed2024 · as Himself
- imagine... French & Saunders: Pointed, Bitchy, Bitter2023 · as Self
- The Best Birthday Ever2022 · as Granny (voice)
- The Trick2021 · as Edward Acton
- Letters Live from the Archive: Union Chapel2021 · as Self
- King Rocker2020 · as Self (archive footage)
- Completely Bad News2019 · as Vim Fuego
- The Rizen: Possession2019 · as The Interviewer
- How The Young Ones Changed Comedy2018
- RSC Live: Twelfth Night2018 · as Malvolio
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi2017 · as Captain Peavey
- Interlude in Prague2017 · as Herr Luptak
- The Rizen2017 · as Interviewer
- Rocky Horror Show Live2015 · as Narrator
- Five Go to Rehab2012 · as Dick
- Blood2012 · as Tom Tiernan
- Britain Beware!2012 · as Self (Presenter)
- Blackadder's Most Cunning Moments2008 · as Self - Baron von Richthoven (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Rocky Horror Tribute Show2008 · as Brad
- Miss Austen Regrets2008 · as Henry Austen
- The Dangerous Brothers - Dangervision2008 · as Sir Adrian Dangerous
- If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story2007 · as Self (Narrator)
- The Making of 'The Young Ones'2007 · as Self (Archived Footage)
- Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - 40th Anniversary Celebration2006 · as Self
- The Comic Strip - A Retrospective2005 · as Self
- Bottom Mindless Violence2004 · as Vyvyan / Eddie Catflap / Sir Adrian Dangerous / Dreamy Time Escort / Eddie Hitler / Eddie Ndingombaba (archive footage)
- Bottom Live 2003: Weapons Grade Y-Fronts Tour2003 · as Edward Hitler
- The Best of French & Saunders2002 · as Various
- Bottom Live 2001: An Arse Oddity2001 · as Eddie
- Four Men in a Plane2000 · as Ian Crisp
- Guest House Paradiso1999 · as Eddie Elizabeth Ndingombaba
- The Making of 'Guest House Paradiso'1999 · as Self
- Big Bottom Live - The Best of Bottom Live1999
- The Man1999 · as Ash
- Jack and the Beanstalk: The ITV Pantomime1998 · as Dame Dolly
- Four Men in a Car1998 · as Ian
- Bottom Live 3: Hooligan's Island1997 · as Eddie Hitler
- Bottom Fluff1996
- Bottom Live 2: The Big Number 2 Tour1995 · as Eddie
- The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Treasure of the Peacock's Eye1995 · as Zyke
- French and Saunders' Christmas Carol1994 · as Tim Goodchance
- Bottom Live: The Stage Show1993 · as Eddie
- Demonella1993 · as Sid Vicious
- Gregory: Diary of a Nutcase1993 · as Gregory Dawson
- Space Virgins from Planet Sex1993 · as 'K' / Air Traffic Controller
- Holy - Bottom: Christmas Special1992 · as Edward Elizabeth Hitler
- Red Nose of Courage1992 · as John Major/Coco the Clown
- The Pope Must Die1991 · as Father Rookie
- News Hounds1990 · as Phil Burke
- Les Dogs1990 · as Best Man
- Oxford1990 · as 2nd MI5 Man / Fan
- South Atlantic Raiders: Part 11990 · as Billy
- South Atlantic Raiders: Part 2 Argie Bargie!1990 · as Billy
- GLC: The Carnage Continues1990 · as Billy/Prince Charles/Giles Cricket Bat Portland
- The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball1989 · as Self
- Just Like That!1989 · as Self
- An Audience With Victoria Wood1988 · as Self
- The Yob1988 · as Michael
- Mr Jolly Lives Next Door1988 · as Dreamy Time Escort
- More Bad News1988 · as Vim Fuego
- The Strike1988 · as Adrian/Slim/Policeman
- Eat the Rich1987 · as Charles
- Filthy Rich & Catflap1987 · as Edward Catflap
- The Comic Relief Utterly Utterly Rude Video Live1986 · as Self
- Honest Decent & True1986 · as Alun Pickersgill
- Private Enterprise1986 · as Brian
- Dangerous Brothers Present: World of Danger1986 · as Sir Adrian Dangerous
- Consuela (or, The New Mrs Saunders)1986 · as John
- The Supergrass1985 · as Dennis Carter
- Happy Families1985 · as Guy Fuddle / Grandpa Harold Fuddle
- Slags1984 · as Ace
- Eddie Monsoon - a Life?1984 · as Eddie Moonson
- Gino: Full Story and Pics1984 · as Gordon/Bill
- A Fistful of Travellers' Cheques1984 · as Billy
- Susie1984 · as Martin
- Dirty Movie1984 · as Bean
- Five Go Mad on Mescalin1983 · as Dick
- Summer School1983 · as Peter
- Bad News1983 · as Vim Fuego/Alan Metcalfe
- The Beat Generation1983 · as Desmond
- War1983 · as Various Roles
- Dead on Time1983 · as Fool
- Five Go Mad in Dorset1982 · as Dick
- Kevin Turvey: The Man Behind the Green Door1982 · as Keith Marshall
- The Comic Strip1981
- Codes— · as Head of MI6
All TV Shows (96)
- Sam & Ade Go Birding2026
- Alien: Earth2025 · as Atom Eins
- Bergerac2025 · as Nigel
- Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story2024 · as Phil
- 3 Body Problem2024 · as Denys Porlock
- Toad & Friends2023 · as Toad
- A Spy Among Friends2022 · as Sir Roger Hollis
- The Pact2021 · as Richard
- Out of Her Mind2020 · as Lewis
- Between the Covers2020 · as Self
- Back to Life2019 · as John Boback
- Cheat2019 · as William Vaughan
- Celebrity Catchphrase2018 · as Self - Contestant
- Save Me2018 · as Gideon Charles
- Bancroft2017 · as Superintendent Cliff Walker
- Richard Osman's House of Games2017 · as Self - Contestant
- Genius2017 · as David Hilbert
- Urban Myths2017 · as Leslie Conn
- One of Us2016 · as Peter Elliot
- Upstart Crow2016 · as Dogberry
- War and Peace2016 · as Ilya Rostov
- Ronja, the Robber's Daughter2014 · as Noodle Pete (voice, English version)
- Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled2014 · as Self
- Prey2014 · as DCI Warner
- Ade at Sea2014 · as Self
- Catchphrase2013
- Gadget Man2012
- The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff2012 · as Headmaster Wackville
- The Great Sport Relief Bake Off2012 · as Self - Contestant
- Ade in Britain2011
- Death in Paradise2011 · as Charles Crabtree
- Monte Carlo or Bust2010
- Let's Dance for Comic Relief2009 · as Self - Contestant
- Teenage Kicks2008
- The Alan Titchmarsh Show2007 · as Self
- Would I Lie to You?2007 · as Self
- Britain's Got More Talent2007 · as Self
- The Graham Norton Show2007 · as Self
- The One Show2006 · as Self - Guest
- School's Out2006 · as Self
- Great British Menu2006 · as Self - Guest Judge
- Surviving Disaster2006
- Twisted Tales2005 · as Ed Barnes
- Doctors and Nurses2004 · as Dr. Roy Glover
- Celebrity Mastermind2003
- Spine Chillers2003
- Comic Relief Does Fame Academy2003
- Holby City1999 · as Percy "Abra" Durant
- Captain Star1997
- Jonathan Creek1997 · as Brendan Baxter
- Midsomer Murders1997 · as Hugo Welles
- Look at the State We're In!1995 · as Dewhurst
- Ready, Steady, Cook1994 · as Self - Guest
- If You See God, Tell Him1993 · as Gordon Spry
- Absolutely Fabulous1992 · as Hamish
- Pebble Mill1991 · as Self
- Bottom1991 · as Edward Elizabeth Hitler
- Rita Rudner1990
- Snakes and Ladders1989 · as Giles Tewkesbury
- Screen One1989 · as Phil Burke
- Press Gang1989 · as Simon Knowles
- This Morning1988 · as Self
- Going Live!1987 · as Self
- French & Saunders1987 · as John
- Hardwicke House1987 · as Tiny
- Filthy Rich & Catflap1987 · as Edward Catflap
- Saturday Live1986
- The Dangerous Brothers1986 · as Sir Adrian Dangerous
- Happy Families1985 · as Guy Fuddle
- Screen Two1985 · as Alun Pickersgill
- Natural World1983 · as Narrator
- Blackadder1983 · as Baron von Richtoven
- The Young Ones1982 · as Vyvyan
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Dick
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Mike/Hatchett/Julio/Bolsen/Man in Cage/Jenkins/Zarkoff
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Desmond
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Vim Fuego
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Peter
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Bean
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Martin
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Billy
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Gordon/Bill
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Eddie Monsoon
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Ace
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as John
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Brian
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Adrian/Slim/Policeman
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Dreamy Time Escort
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Michael
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Billy/Prince/Giles Cricket Bat Portland
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as 2nd MI5 Man/Fan
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Bestman
- The Comic Strip Presents...1982
- Boom Boom... Out Go the Lights1980
- An Audience with...1978 · as Self
- The Secret Policeman's Ball1976 · as Self