Elder statesman

The premise of the show is that Alan B'Stard, the one-time arch-Tory politician and all-round nasty piece of work, has re-invented himself as a Blairite. But of course, Alan's ostensible U-turn is in fact nothing of the sort.

"In fact, it was Alan who invented New Labour," Rik explains. "He is very high up in the party, lives at 9 Downing Street and tells Tony Blair what to do. He's the mastermind behind it all!"

The idea for the new show came about when Rik was chatting with Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, who had scripted the TV series at his request. "We were talking about how New Labour were actually the 'New Conservatives', and also wondering how Alan might have fared over the last 14 years," he continues.

"Now everyone can see what he was up to! His greatest triumph was inventing the Millennium Bug and scaring people into spending millions on protective technology - which they bought from B'Stard companies, of course! Alan made a lot of money from that, so he's the perfect representation of New Labour."

Guaranteed to bring a grin to the face of everyone who mistrusts the Blair government, The New Statesman - Episode 2006: The Blair B'Stard Project is certainly no re-tread of Alan's past exploits - for a start, its subject matter is obviously different, targeting the New Labour world of spin, cronyism and warmongering, while the fact that the selfish, sleazy Alan is still in a position of power highlights the way in which politics seem to have come full circle.

"I've always believed that you shouldn't look back," Rik states. "In fact, I once happened to meet Little Richard, and he gave me some advice...'Stop at the top!'" After launching briefly into a full Little Richard impersonation, he continues: "This show isn't about repeating the old jokes, it's not just some old has-been trading on his past glories - that would be against my entertainment religion! Alan has moved onwards and upwards; plus I'm nearly fifty so he's now middle-aged."

He pauses and adds devilishly, "Besides, the main reason for bringing back the show is that Alan gets to screw Condoleezza Rice!"

There may be new targets and new jokes, but some things remain the same, including Rik's obvious delight not only in playing utterly reprehensible characters but also in giving governments a kick up the backside. "In a way, it's the same as when I started out in alternative comedy in the early 80s," he says. "I was against things being crap then, and I'm still against things being crap today."

The show, while unlikely to bring the government to its knees (although Rik cheekily claims that the TV series brought about the downfall of both the Thatcher and Major administrations), does tap into a growing trend of dissatisfaction and disaffection with politics that mirrors the early days of alternative comedy, and behind the undoubted comedic mileage afforded by Alan B'Stard's shenanigans lie some serious themes.

"Part of the reason why the show is so funny is that we can get away with saying things that wouldn't be permitted on TV," Rik points out. "Television at the moment is so tightly controlled by the Home Office - the theatre is really the last place in Britain where you can have true freedom of speech."

He cites the 2002 TV series Believe Nothing (a satire on British politics and public life), which he co-wrote with Marks and Gran and also starred in, as an example of censorship. "We were told, 'You can't say this, you can't put that in!' and in the end all the best gags were taken out." he remarks ruefully.

A frank condemnation of reality TV shows follows - Rik clearly feels that actor-based drama and satire have been pushed out by this growing culture. It's another reason why theatre appeals to him, and with The New Statesman about to roll into Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre, he's going back to his roots in more ways than one.

Born in Essex, he moved to Droitwich at the age of three and was immersed in the world of theatre by his drama teacher parents, who were heavily involved with the town's Norbury Theatre. "I first appeared on the stage there, although I was mainly employed as the spotlight boy, pointing the lights at the actors," he recalls. "I learned my trade in the Midlands, so I'm very happy to be coming home... it's rather like Elvis Presley playing Memphis," he adds, mock-serious.

"By the way, I should point out that with global warming, three-quarters of the UK's theatres will soon be underwater - this could be your last chance to see me on a stage!"

The jokes are never far away, and if this interview is anything to go by, fans of Rik's manic sense of humour should not be disappointed by the new show. The cast, which he assembled himself, includes Clive Hayward (as "the last socialist in the Labour party"), Marsha Fitzalan (reprising her TV role as Alan's wife) and Helen Baker (as a parliamentary aide and Alan's latest conquest).

"Can I just say to people - don't stay at home and watch the football!" Rik implores, alluding to the fact that the show's Birmingham run coincides with the first full week of World Cup fixtures. "England are managed by a foreigner anyway. If you love your country and you hate Tony Blair, come and see the show!"

I enquire whether Rik has any other projects in the pipeline after the tour finishes. "Well, Hollywood offered me twenty-five million to do a movie called Rik Mayall: Sex God..." he begins, with a playful flash of B'Stard-style vanity. He'll be doing that, then?

"Nah... I'd rather play Birmingham."

The New Statesman - Episode 2006: The Blair B'Stard Project is on at the Alexandra Theatre from Monday June 12 to Saturday June 17. To book tickets call the box office on 0870 607 7533.