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
Alien: Earth
Atom Eins · (8 episodes)
2025
A Spy Among Friends
Sir Roger Hollis · (6 episodes)
2022
The Pact
Richard · (6 episodes)
2021
Bancroft
Superintendent Cliff Walker · (7 episodes)
2017
Richard Osman's House of Games
Self - Contestant · (10 episodes)
2017
Urban Myths
Leslie Conn · (1 episode)
2017
One of Us
Peter Elliot · (4 episodes)
2016
War and Peace
Ilya Rostov · (6 episodes)
2016
Ronja the Robber's Daughter
Noodle Pete (voice, English version) · (26 episodes)
2014
Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Prey
DCI Warner · (3 episodes)
2014
Gadget Man
(1 episode)
2012
The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff
Headmaster Wackville · (3 episodes)
2012
The Great Sport Relief Bake Off
Self - Contestant · (1 episode)
2012
Ade in Britain
(50 episodes)
2011
Monte Carlo or Bust
(3 episodes)
2010
Let's Dance for Comic Relief
Self - Contestant · (1 episode)
2009
Teenage Kicks
(8 episodes)
2008
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
Self · (1 episode)
2007
Would I Lie to You?
Self · (1 episode)
2007
Britain's Got More Talent
Self · (1 episode)
2007
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (1 episode)
2007
School's Out
Self · (1 episode)
2006
Great British Menu
Self - Guest Judge · (1 episode)
2006
Surviving Disaster
(1 episode)
2006
Twisted Tales
(1 episode)
2005
Doctors and Nurses
Dr. Roy Glover · (6 episodes)
2004
Celebrity Mastermind
(1 episode)
2003
Spine Chillers
(1 episode)
2003
Midsomer Murders
Hugo Welles · (1 episode)
1997
Look at the State We're In!
Dewhurst · (6 episodes)
1995
Anna Lee
Dominic Jones · (1 episode)
1994
If You See God, Tell Him
Gordon Spry · (4 episodes)
1993
Pebble Mill
Self · (1 episode)
1991
Rita Rudner
(1 episode)
1990
Happy Families
(5 episodes)
1989
Press Gang
Simon Knowles · (1 episode)
1989
Happy Families
Guy Fuddle · (6 episodes)
1985
Natural World
Narrator · (1 episode)
1983
Ade at Sea
Self · (6 episodes)
Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story
Phil · (4 episodes)
2024
Bottom: Exposed
Himself
2024
3 Body Problem
Denys Porlock · (3 episodes)
2024
imagine... French & Saunders: Pointed, Bitchy, Bitter
Self
2023
Toad & Friends
Toad · (52 episodes)
2023
The Trick
Edward Acton
2021
Letters Live from the Archive: Union Chapel
Self
2021
King Rocker
Self (archive footage)
2020
Out of Her Mind
Lewis · (6 episodes)
2020
Between the Covers
Self · (3 episodes)
2020
Completely Bad News
Vim Fuego
2019
The Rizen: Possession
The Interviewer
2019
Cheat
William Vaughan · (4 episodes)
2019
Celebrity Catchphrase
Self - Contestant · (1 episode)
2018
How The Young Ones Changed Comedy
2018
Save Me
Gideon Charles · (1 episode)
2018
RSC Live: Twelfth Night
Malvolio
2018
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Captain Peavey
2017
Interlude In Prague
Herr Luptak
2017
The Rizen
Interviewer
2017
Genius
David Hilbert · (1 episode)
2017
Upstart Crow
Dogberry · (1 episode)
2016
Rocky Horror Show Live
Narrator
2015
Catchphrase
(1 episode)
2013
Five Go to Rehab
Dick
2012
Blood
Tom Tiernan
2012
Death in Paradise
Charles Crabtree · (1 episode)
2011
Blackadder's Most Cunning Moments
Baron von Richthoven/Self
2008
Rocky Horror Tribute Show
Brad
2008
Miss Austen Regrets
Henry Austen
2008
The Dangerous Brothers - Dangervision
Sir Adrian Dangerous
2008
If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story
Self - Narrator
2007
The Making of 'The Young Ones'
Self (Archived Footage)
2007
The One Show
Self - Guest · (2 episodes)
2006
Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - 40th Anniversary Celebration
Self
2006
The Comic Strip - A Retrospective
Self
2005
Bottom Mindless Violence
Eddie
2004
Bottom Live 2003: Weapons Grade Y-Fronts Tour
Edward Hitler
2003
Comic Relief Does Fame Academy
(40 episodes)
2003
The Best of French & Saunders
Various
2002
Bottom Live 2001: An Arse Oddity
Eddie
2001
Four Men in a Plane
Ian Crisp
2000
Guest House Paradiso
Eddie
1999
The Making of 'Guest House Paradiso'
Self
1999
Big Bottom Live - The Best of Bottom Live
1999
The Man
Ash
1999
Jack and the Beanstalk: The ITV Pantomime
Dame Dolly
1998
Four Men in a Car
Ian
1998
Bottom Live 3: Hooligan's Island
Eddie Hitler
1997
Captain Star
(13 episodes)
1997
Jonathan Creek
Brendan Baxter · (5 episodes)
1997
Bottom Fluff
1996
Bottom Live 2: The Big Number 2 Tour
Eddie
1995
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Treasure of the Peacock's Eye
Zyke
1995
Ready Steady Cook
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1994
Bottom Live: The Stage Show
Eddie
1993
Demonella
Sid Vicious
1993
Gregory: Diary of a Nutcase
Gregory Dawson
1993
Space Virgins from Planet Sex
'K' / Air Traffic Controller
1993
Absolutely Fabulous
Hamish · (2 episodes)
1992
Red Nose of Courage
John Major/Coco the Clown
1992
Bottom
Edward Elizabeth Hitler · (18 episodes)
1991
The Pope Must Die
Father Rookie
1991
News Hounds
Phil Burke
1990
Les Dogs
Best Man
1990
Oxford
2nd MI5 Man / Fan
1990
South Atlantic Raiders: Part 1
Billy
1990
South Atlantic Raiders: Part 2 Argie Bargie!
Billy
1990
GLC: The Carnage Continues
Billy/Prince Charles/Giles Cricket Bat Portland
1990
Snakes and Ladders
Giles Tewkesbury · (7 episodes)
1989
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball
Self
1989
Just Like That!
Self
1989
An Audience With Victoria Wood
Self
1988
This Morning
Self · (2 episodes)
1988
The Yob
Michael
1988
Mr Jolly Lives Next Door
Dreamy Time Escort
1988
More Bad News
Vim Fuego
1988
The Strike
Adrian/Slim/Policeman
1988
Eat the Rich
Charles
1987
Going Live!
Self · (1 episode)
1987
French & Saunders
John · (1 episode)
1987
Hardwicke House
Tiny · (1 episode)
1987
Filthy Rich & Catflap
Edward Catflap
1987
Filthy Rich & Catflap
Edward Catflap · (6 episodes)
1987
The Comic Relief Utterly Utterly Rude Video Live
Self
1986
Honest Decent & True
Alun Pickersgill
1986
Saturday Live
(30 episodes)
1986
Private Enterprise
Brian
1986
Dangerous Brothers Present: World of Danger
Sir Adrian Dangerous
1986
Consuela (or, The New Mrs Saunders)
John
1986
The Dangerous Brothers
Sir Adrian Dangerous · (12 episodes)
1986
The Supergrass
Dennis Carter
1985
Slags
Ace
1984
Eddie Monsoon - a Life?
Eddie Moonson
1984
Gino: Full Story and Pics
Gordon/Bill
1984
A Fistful of Travellers' Cheques
Billy
1984
Susie
Martin
1984
Dirty Movie
Bean
1984
Five Go Mad on Mescalin
Dick
1983
Blackadder
Baron von Richtoven · (1 episode)
1983
Summer School
Peter
1983
Bad News
Vim Fuego/Alan Metcalfe
1983
The Beat Generation
Desmond
1983
War
Various Roles
1983
Dead on Time
Fool
1983
The Young Ones
Vyvyan · (12 episodes)
1982
Five Go Mad in Dorset
Dick
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Dick · (3 episodes)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Mike/Hatchett/Julio/Bolsen/Man in Cage/Jenkins/Zarkoff · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Desmond · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Vim Fuego · (2 episodes)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Peter · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Bean · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Martin · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Billy · (3 episodes)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Gordon/Bill · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Eddie Monsoon · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Ace · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
John · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Brian · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Adrian/Slim/Policeman · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Dreamy Time Escort · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Michael · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Billy/Prince/Giles Cricket Bat Portland · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
2nd MI5 Man/Fan · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Bestman · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
John Major - Coco the Clown · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
'K'/Air Traffic Controller · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Gregory Dawson · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Sid Vicious · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Ian · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Ian Crisp · (1 episode)
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
(46 episodes)
1982
Kevin Turvey: The Man Behind the Green Door
Keith Marshall
1982
The Comic Strip
1981
Boom Boom... Out Go the Lights
(2 episodes)
1980
An Audience with...
Self · (1 episode)
1978
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Self · (15 episodes)
1976