Rick Mayall

Comedy: The Young Ones (1982 - 1984).

Set-Up: Classic slapstick house sharing sitcom given an alternative comedy twist by rising stars Mayall, Ade Edmondson as mohican'd nutjob Vyvyan, Nigel Planer as hippy Neil and Christopher Ryan as wide boy Mike.

Standout moment: Representing Scumbag College on University Challenge - what chance did these oiks have against Footlights College, a team of poshos played by Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Ben Elton?

Lowest ebb: Making his comeback in 1986 singing Livin' Doll with his hero Cliff in aid of Comic Relief. Terrible singalong record, but at least it was for charity.

Big screen potential: The Young Ones called it a day after two series, but if only there had been a British film industry in the early eighties we'd have probably had a movie version too, which would have appealed to the dads of Hot Fuzz/Shaun of the Dead fans everywhere.

Why are they a hero? For anyone who had been at college around that period, Mayall perfectly captured the earnestness of the politically active student in all its adolescent absurdity. He's probably an accountant now.

Factoid: Regular musical guests such as Motorhead and Madness helped Rick and co to attract a cult youth following, but they were only included so that the series could qualify for a larger light entertainment budget, rather than scrape by on a sitcom budget.