Talking Bottom: A Guide to The Cult Sitcom sold-out on the first day of publication in July 2025 but its original publisher Boundless went into liquidation leaving the authors out-of-pocket, and the future of the book uncertain. Now, thanks to Wilton Square Books, Talking Bottom has been rescued and is once again back in print and available for comedy fans worldwide to buy in time for Christmas.
Combining cartoon-style slapstick, nob gags and Beckettian nihilist humour, Bottom left an indelible mark on British comedy. When it hit British screens in 1991, at first glance it was just another sofa-based sitcom. Soon, it became clear Bottom was a masterpiece. Written by and starring comedy legends Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson as reprobates Richard Richard and Edward Hitler, their stories unfolded in three chaotic BBC TV series, five explosive live shows and a formidable feature film.
Talking Bottom: A Guide To The Cult Sitcom celebrates the legacy of TV’s greatest losers, Richie and Eddie. Complete with thorough ‘Bottom Inspections’, ‘Bottom Nuggets’, never-before-seen photos, draft script excerpts and interview snippets with Bottom’s cast and crew.
Jam-packed with episode-by-episode analysis, unseen photos and draft script excerpts, the creators of Talking Bottom – named Metro and Guardian’s ‘Podcast of the Week’ – present comedy fans with this ultimate guide to Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson’s hilarious, outrageous and unforgettable 90s sitcom, Bottom.
Bottom aficionados Paul Tanter, Angela Pearson and Mat Brooks said: “Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson shaped our funny bones with their frying pan wielding cartoon violence. After Rik sadly died far too young, we started the Talking Bottom podcast to celebrate the hilarious double act to which we owe thanks for endless laughter. We wrote the book for fellow comedy fans to enjoy and we are thrilled that, thanks to Wilton Square, it’s been reborn like a Phoenix from the flames of Richie’s Sprouts Mexicane!”
Will Atkinson co-founder and CEO of Wilton Square said: "We are absolutely delighted to bring Talking Bottom back into the market. The first print run sold out instantly, showing how much love there is for this iconic piece of television and how excellent the book is. Paul, Angela and Mat have done an amazing job bringing the show back to life.”
Talking Bottom: A Guide to the Cult Sitcom is available in paperback from 6 November at all good booksellers. The e-book is out now via Amazon Kindle.
About The Authors
Paul Tanter is a TV/Film director and film journalist; Angela Pearson is a comedy publicist and writer; and Mat Brooks is a director and comedian. Together, they created the podcast Talking Bottom to celebrate the world’s greatest sitcom.
Following the success of two sell-out live podcasts at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and The Rik Mayall Comedy Festival in 2025, their recent podcast series The Many Faces of Rik Mayall hit the top-ten in the iTunes podcast chart.
