“Rik I knew and know less. He was probably the person who made me laugh the most. I took any chance to watch him work onstage because he is a consummately funny man. There are rich comedy strata only Rik has access to and he is king of them to this day. He should be a stupendously mighty comedy star worldwide. He should be a brand called Rik. He should have shops called Rik where you can go to buy some funny. He should have an actual crown. That’s how funny he is. I don’t really know him, although I’ve known him for a very long time – y’know, that sort of person. He had a lot of attention, deservedly so, because he was not only hilarious, but also quite beautiful with the clearest, hugest eyes and the most expressive face. Other young comics copied him for a while, a bit like everyone copied Eddie Izzard later on. I also have Rik to thank for pointing out, at one particularly auspicious Comic Strip meeting, that Fatty and I were being paid half as much as the boys! He felt guilty about it and brought it up for discussion. We knew nothing of this and so were at once horrified and delighted to be awarded the pay rise. Rik is honourable in that way.”