I was in the audience here during my own graduation, I come back about once a year to rewatch this speech, those 5 mantras currently serving me well. 👏🏼👏🏼 RIP Rik ❤️

A bright light went out when this great man passed away but it shines on us brighter than ever as the years pass by. Thanks for being gloriously you Rik x

Found this very touching, met him once in a hotel bar in Leeds 25 years, had a few pints together - he was wonderful company , one of my most treasured memories. I doubt he'll be resting in peace , rather he'll be shaking things up a bit

Dr Rik Mayall. Actor, Comedian, Force of Nature, and wonderful human being. RIP.

Rik Mayall was a rare light in my life when it was almost complete darkness. Thank you Rik. RIP.

And all the punks and skins and Rastas held hands and cried for there fallen leader,and the parents said but why are the kids crying?coz Rik is dead, the peoples poet is dead...RIP RIK.gone but never forgotten,a national treasure, Un-replaceable, thanks for all the big belly laughs Rik we all loved you. Now God has a Jester.x.

Rik Mayal is the man who helped me survive those horrible, awkward teenage years of acne, bad haircuts, desperate, crippling social anxiety and fear of making a fool of myself in front of friends and girls! Bless you, Rik!

1. All men are equal, therefore no one can ever be your genuine superior. 2. Your future is as bright as you make it. 3. Change is a constant of life, so you must never ever lose your wisdom. 4. If you want to live a full and complete human life, you have to be free. 5. Love is the answer.

I come back to watch this glorious speech from time to time, you were one of a kind Dr Rik Mayall and a marvellous human being, RIP you magnificent b’stard!

What a fantastic human being. A genuine national treasure for us here in the UK.

I cried for a fortnight from the day I heard Rik had died. I still miss him. He was a beautiful soul.

When I get low, I ALWAYS come back to this speech. Thankyou for the smiles and laughter!

A man should of lived into his 80s and more. I was devastated when I heard he had died.

RIP. "How can Rick be dead when we still have his poems?"

Floella Benjamin giving Rik Mayall an honorary doctorate ... you couldn't make it up. amazing.

An absolute legend. Never has any other celebrity's death affected me so much. What a talent he was. I can only imagine him running amok in heaven! Give 'em hell Rik! We will never forget you down here.

I was rasied on Rik and Ade's comedy. My childhood was difficult and their work got me through it. I love them both for their work as it helped me so significantly and shaped my sense of humour and personality (for the better) growing up. I was in Hammersmith for an interview the year Rik died and I ran to the traffic island used in the bottom intro to see if a memorial I had heard about online was still there (it was a giant pair of stained underwear and letters from fans). It was, and I cried, as ridiculous as the situation was; and I realised how much his comedy and he as a person had meant to me. I constantly return to watch his work over and over again and probably will till I die too. He was a great person and comedian and will always be my favourite. He seemed like a really sincere bloke. I had lost a very close friend in the same week Rik died, and that week in June was one of the worst weeks of my life. I wholly sympathise with what Ade went through during that time.

As a higher education lecturer let me just firstly admit that while I'll never be as funny as Dr. Mayall was, I'll always aspire to be as honest and inspirational. R.I.P. Rik

Rik Mayall was a most extraordinary human being. Totally lovable, unbelievably funny, endlessly entertaining. If only a few more could follow his lit path…..

I'm sitting here typing this waiting for my son to graduate in the same hall at Exeter Uni as Rik gave this speech. I wished he was giving the speech today.

Wiser than most philosophers. RIP Rik.

Rik Mayall was a legend and always made me laugh. R.I.P.

What a towering personality....what true words.... remember in these dark times " freedom IS paramount".

I'm almost in tears, seriously. Why did the bastard have to go ! :)

Since his passing.... I admit he was spot on with his knowledge of the powers that be... And the world today...

Few could make a serious point with quite so much fun, wit and swagger as Rik Mayall. The world is slightly more miserable without him.

Rik Mayal an 80s icon and wil never forget his impact on my childhood.

Equality. Opportunity Wisdom Freedom Love.

When he said "bon voyage" my eyes filled up... Still can't believe he's gone, the past year has gone so fast. Even in death he makes time fly by.... Rest in peace you beautiful person. I love you Rik

Thank you Rik Mayall for the laughter. Thank you so much for being you.

Here was a candle that burned extraordinarily bright. RIP dear Rik, you bastard!

‘Thaaank you Doctor’ 🤷🏻‍♂️😂😂😂😂😂😂

Why is it always the greatest, nicest, funniest, and most Talented ones to go first?? John Lennon, Freddy Mercury, Rik Mayall were THE show. Without those people the show didn't exist.

My childhood hero what an absolute legend, the only person that can make me laugh without even opening his mouth. This is the best video on KZfaq for so many reasons.

I will feel forever blessed for getting to see him live on quite a few occasions, The man was an absolute Genius. Although I often think back with pity that I didn’t spend an extra 90 minutes waiting out the back after the show like them weird fans as we used to call them. Just to shake his hand, just to say thanks for being you. Rip You Complete baastad.

Watching Rik Mayall is truly my happy place 😁

"Love is the answer" - well said, Ryk!

Loved to watch Rik. Sad loss Gone far too soon.

Still can't believe he's gone, even after all these years. A true comic genius.

He was my idol,he taught us that even though we are grown up we can still have a young heart and act silly.An inspiration to many,and sorely missed already.Gutted he has gone.RIP Sir Rik.

I miss you Rick. You continue to make me laugh uncontrollably.

My favourite human, miss him everyday!

As long as we remember Rick, he will be alive. And that is going to be for a very long time. R.I.P. Rick, the world is a sadder place now. Thank you for your legacy.

Absolute genius of a man gone way to soon one of my favourite men of all time we love you rik 😢

One of the world's finest who should not have been taking away from us so early in his life.. Absolutely bloody still missed... RIP DOCTOR RIK MAYALL where ever you R. 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

5 years ago today. Yeah i am shedding a tear today for the loss of my comedy hero! I miss you so much and so glad that i got to see you live. R.I.P Rik

Odd how I awoke this morning feeling sad that Rik is not with us, went on KZfaq for some diy advice and found this video. I now feel very happy and laughing having heard his comedic banter again. I love British comedy and comedians, it’s a gift from the gods.

I love that the description states: "Warning: This video contains some swearing.", I'd have been disappointed if it didn't! May his humour continue to live on in each of us.

Growing up watching "Bottom", "the Young Ones" and "Drop dead Fred" made my childhood and teens so much better than they could possibly have been without his contributions.

And he’s actually the cleverest person in that room by a very long way.

"Always treat your planes, like you treat your women. Get into them 5 times a day and take them to heaven and back" - Flashheart :)

Rik and Floella - two legends from my formative years. Both in the same hall that I graduated in and in my own home city. Bliss

A true legend. Such a great shame he's no longer with us. The episode of bottom, with the bloke coming to read the gas meter. Epic.

I watched avidly the Young Ones, Kevin Turvey, etc., but didn’t instantly recognise him on a play on TV because he looked so hot, beautiful even. His ability to change his face and demeanour was second to none. Funniest thing alive. Saddest day when he died, but never to be forgotten.

“I failed my maths exam THREE times!” (Holds up 2 fingers 🤣🤣🤣)

There'll never be another like Rik, he was unique ❤️😢

Rik Mayall, I still can't believe he is gone, this speech is unbelievable and his 5 mantras are words to live by, go out there and have a fucking good life! Heck yes! What a heroic man and a true comedy genius RIP Rik.

Floella turned 71 two weeks ago - still looks amazing!

R.I.P. ... SIR GENIUS EXTRAORDINAIRE. !

I'll bet he went to the pub after this and got pissed

I wish I could click the like button multiple times and have it count. This is 10 minutes of pure unadulterated Joy.

Blew my mind away such a superb unique amazing guy "live life to the full"we are here for fun not forever xx

I'm amazed he weren't knighted. Sir. Dr. Rik Mayall. I love his work.

Rik Mayall was amazing. Its heartbreaking that "they" got to him and we no longer have him

Just brilliant. I’ve been through loads of these ceremonies, but nothing like this. Remember, he said, ‘question everything’

I listened to this on my graduation day in 2018, and I remember it word for word, as opposed to whatever guff they said at my actual graduation.

“ and all the people will cry, Rick is dead, the people’s poet is dead “ RIP Rik, Colin, Richie.... you made me laugh so hard, I’ll never forget those lines you spoke, and I repeat them even to this day “ now let’s go and get really really piddly “

You'll always be a Young One. R.I.P Rik

This man made me laugh more than anybody ever has. And he continues to do so. Long live in our hearts and our tele Rik!

He never changed, and that's the most inspirational thing. He could as easily get into his Young-Ones character right there and then.

Very much missed beautiful man

RIP Rik, a true legend, comedy icon, my hero and idol. I will NEVER forget you. xxxxx

Versatile, brilliant, passionate, obnoxious, darling man!!! Love you, Rik!!!

I was instantly brought to tears seeing this video, Rik he was my Idol as well as Ade, R.I.P Rik, you may be dead but true legends never die

I recently watched a programme called 50 years of bbc comedy and nobody made me laugh more than Kevin Turvey to a certain generation he was the best in the business

I definitely remember Floella Benjamin on Play School. She was one of my first black heroines that I would regularly see on tv growing up in the 1980’s. She along with Derek Griffiths were some of the first black people I saw on tv .

I'm gutted that my kids will never know the legend that is this man, the world became a duller place on the day he died 😞

What an incredible person. We have lost someone so very special to this world.

Rik visited me in Hospital a real Diamond of a man . And according to the Nurse , quite the hottie! Great loss to British entertainment. R.I.P. You were and will forever be, Wik...Britain (young ones do University Challenge).........

RIP. A true legend from my childhood. Very much missed.

A force of life, how we could do with him now. RIP.

This man is my hero.

Ah so sorely missed. So many laughs and smiles. RIP

What a guy! Rik brightened up my otherwise miserable life. Much love.

A few prim and proper people found it too difficult to applaud him, especially at the end. He his brilliant.

Probably his greatest gift to us, and life an utter utter spazmo I am only just discovering it now. Better late than never, right kids ?! 😂👍😁

We miss you so much, Rik :(

As mantras go you won't get five better..wise words Rick ! Rest in Peace lad !

I'm not a fan of swearing in comedy, but when it is used sparingly, and unexpectedly, it can have a great impact. Despite his protestations Rik Mayall was a very clever man.

I always feel sad when I think of Rik. This made me happy to see him

This is why he was murdered.! His 5 mantra points for the future generations does not sit well with our Controllers.....more relevant now than ever. Thank you Doctor Mayall...RIP. 🙏❤

Wow, sensational! Did anyone else think however that Floella Benjamin slightly ruined the moment by apologising at the end?

Beautiful ... thank you Rik Mayall 💜 Love and Light 💜🙏🏾💙

Legend who will be missed by many. Thank's Rick..

RIP Rik, we are going to miss your iconic voice and your brilliant comedy. Rest in peace, you legend of comedy.

He is just bloody marvellous, isn't he? He's at Exeter University receiving a doctorate and he has the nerve to say the f word. #anarchy i like his speeches. He was and is marvellous.

What an amazing unique talent he entertained us with. Such a loss for us and such a gain for the heavens. Rest in peace Rik. Love is the answer brother X

This man is awesome 👏 👏 👏

One of a kind, what a great bloke.

an icon, a legend, a giant whose shoulders future comedians should privileged and humbled to stand on, a father, a husband , a genius , a man......rest in peace Doctor Mayall, your memory will live forever