Editing Bottom (TV series) (section)

==Cancelled revivals==
In late 2004, surrounding the release of their ''Mindless Violence'' DVD, Mayall hinted that he and Edmondson may possibly be returning with another tour in the future. However, Edmondson said that it was "definitely time to stop. We're both getting too old. We both realised that the show wasn't as engaging as it used to be. We were starting to look a bit ridiculous. ... We're both nearly fifty and we're starting to feel slightly undignified talking about wanking and knobs constantly."<ref name=TM04>{{cite web|work=Daily Mirror|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-125541184/the-young-ones-have-grown-old-so-it-s-time-for-rik|title=The Young Ones Have Grown Old. So It's Time for Rik and I to Split|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729133335/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-125541184/the-young-ones-have-grown-old-so-it-s-time-for-rik|archive-date=29 July 2020|date=1 December 2004|first=Barbara|last=Davies|access-date=26 September 2022}}</ref> In 2010, Edmondson confirmed that he had quit comedy, stating that his interest in it has declined for many years, and wanted to focus more on his band. He dismissed the idea of reuniting with Mayall, saying it is "very unlikely".<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Daily Express]]|url= https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/adrian-edmondson-unlikely-to-work-with-bottom-244883 |title= Adrian Edmondson 'unlikely' to work with Bottom partner Rik Mayall again after quitting comedy |author= Alun Palmer |date=27 January 2012 |orig-year=1 September 2010 |id= "[http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/172120/I%92ve-had-last-laugh%2C-says-Adrian/ I've had last laugh says Adrian]" at Express.co.uk}}</ref><!-- [[WP:RS/P]] exception: primary source for its own content -->

In March 2011, the duo made a surprise reunion when Edmondson took part in ''[[Let's Dance for Comic Relief]]''. A pre-recorded segment ended with Mayall hurling a custard pie in Edmondson's face. Mayall appeared again, this time live on stage, to abruptly end Edmondson's performance by hitting him several times with a frying pan. In the final, Mayall returned once again to drop a ton weight upon Edmondson. In the following month, Edmondson revealed that he and Mayall had conceived an idea for a sitcom. "Rik and I have an idea for a sitcom for when we are very, very old. We want to set it in an old people's home 30 years hence. It will be like 'Bottom', but we will be hitting each other with colostomy bags!"<ref>{{cite web |title= Mayall and Edmondson write retirement home comedy |url= http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000508/rik_mayall_adrian_edmondson_oap_retirement_comedy/ |work= British Comedy Guide |access-date= 14 July 2013|date= 2011-04-07 }}</ref>

In August 2012, the BBC announced that it had commissioned a series based on the ''Hooligan's Island'' stage show, where Eddie and Richie cause havoc on a deserted tropical island, set to air in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2012/bbctwo-commissions.html |title=BBC Two announces raft of new commissions |work=BBC News |date=23 August 2012 |access-date=23 August 2012 |archive-date=2 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002081446/http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2012/bbctwo-commissions.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= Skipper |first=Ben |url= http://uk.tv.yahoo.com/bottom-to-return-after-18-years.html |title=Bottom to return after 18 years |work=Yahoo News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814135731/http://uk.tv.yahoo.com/bottom-to-return-after-18-years.html |archive-date=14 August 2014 |date=23 August 2012 |access-date= 19 June 2014}}</ref> However, the show was scrapped just two months later. Edmondson said "it wasn't working" and wanted to pursue other projects.<ref name=RT12>{{cite web|url=https://rikmayallinterviews.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/bbc-bottom-reunion-series-hooligans-island-scrapped/|title=BBC Bottom reunion series Hooligan's Island scrapped|first=Tom|last=Cole|date=15 October 2012|work=Radio Times|access-date=26 September 2022}}</ref> Mayall tried to have Edmondson reconsider, but he "put his foot down and said, 'It's not going to work mate.'", and wanted to wait ten years until they were older for a possible sitcom set in an old peoples home.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rikmayallinterviews.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/bottom-tv-show-back-in-a-decade/|title=Bottom TV show 'back in a decade'|work=Belfast Telegraph|date=5 March 2013|access-date=26 September 2022}}</ref> Mayall died on 9 June 2014, putting an end to the plans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/jun/10/rik-mayall-happy-healthy-death-friend-young-ones|title=Rik Mayall happy and healthy moments before death, says friend|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=10 June 2014}}</ref> In 2023, Edmondson revealed that he wrote the initial scripts with Mayall in the hope that the BBC would reject them. He felt Mayall was eager to revive their old characters, but struggled to accept that Edmondson was not interested. While he hoped a rejection would put Mayall's aspirations to rest, the idea was ultimately greenlit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/desert-island-discs-adrian-edmondson-rik-mayall-b2417097.html|title=Desert Island Discs listeners in tears over Adrian Edmondson's emotional Rik Mayall memory
|first=Jacob|last=Stolworthy|date=23 September 2023|work=The Independent|access-date=18 April 2024}}</ref>