An English comedian, actor, writer, musician, television presenter and director. He came to prominence in the early 1980s and was part of the alternative comedy boom. He is probably best known for his comedic roles in the television series The Young Ones (1982–1984) and Bottom (1991–2003), which he also wrote with his long-time collaborative partner Rik Mayall. He also appeared in the Comic Strip Presents... series of films throughout the 1980s and 1990s.