MOST of us know him from The Young Ones, where he starred alongside the late, great Rik Mayall.

Also appearing in the early Eighties sitcom were comedy luminaries Adrian Edmondson and Nigel Planer.

Mayall died last year aged 56.

Sayle said the star of sitcom The Young Ones and film Drop Dead Fred had a rare ability to ‘conjure laugh after laugh’.

He said Mayall was a ‘ridiculously physically brave’ actor who ‘fearlessly’ threw himself into dangerous situations in the name of comedy.

“He could make an audience start laughing as soon as he walked on stage and just stood there.

“‘What?’ he’d finally say, as if puzzled by the helpless laughter.

“He was also ridiculously physically brave: one of my abiding memories of making The Young Ones is Rik once again being taken off to hospital to be treated for some injury he’d got while fearlessly throwing himself into a stunt.

“Because he was in many ways a shy man and not a self-promoter who did not perform well on the celebrity circuit or on chat shows, a little of his legacy has been forgotten.

“But it’s important to remember how many brilliant characters Rik created and what a huge star he was.”

In The Young Ones, which aired from 1982 to 1984, Sayle portrayed several members of an Eastern European family – the Balowskis.

Sayle’s first encounter with Mayall, along with his comedy partner Adrian Edmondson, was at a comedy night in the early 1980s.

He said: “Adrian was obviously vital to the act but it was Rik I couldn’t take my eyes off.

“Comedy is truly great when it comes out of nothing, and the greatest of comedians, like Rik, have that rare ability to conjure laugh after laugh not from endless words but from a single look or one absurd gesture.”

More of Sayle’s reflections from his life and career are in the newly-published second volume of his memoirs Thatcher Stole My Trousers.

Sayle has performed as a character actor in Hollywood movies including Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade and has even released five comedy singles.

In Dorchester on January 23 he will also read from his first volume Stalin Ate My Homework, alongside some of his famous short stories.

Sayle also appeared in several episodes of The Comic Strip Presents... between 1985 and 1993, most notably playing the two leading roles in Didn’t You Kill My Brother? which he co-wrote with David Stafford and Pauline Melville.

Sayle has co-written and starred in many other programmes, including three series of Alexei Sayle’s Stuff (1988-91), two series of The All New Alexei Sayle Show (1994-95) and one series of Alexei Sayle’s Merry-Go-Round (1998).

The comedian has also campaigned as a pro-Palestinian activist.

He fiercely condemned Israel’s air strikes in the Gaza Strip by comparing the nation’s behaviour to that of prolific sex offender Jimmy Savile.

Turning his attentions away from politics, Sayle has also provided commentary on hit BBC1 show Strictly Come Dancing.

The keen dance fan said he would never appear on the show.

“I presented several television shows on dance in the early 2000s, and I have a basic, practical knowledge of the art.

“I possess a smattering of tap, I can salsa as well as any North London social worker, and I’ve been known to attempt an Argentine tango when drunk.

“Friends suggested that an appearance on Strictly might help bring my work to a new, previously unaware audience.

“On both occasions after they said this, my mates were shocked when, rather than being grateful for the suggestion, I embarked on a two-hour, Hugo Chávez/Fidel Castro-style, Marxist denunciation, first of all TV talent shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and then secondly of the supposed skill that its contestants are being judged on – ballroom dancing.”

Liverpool-born Sayle presented a BBC2 documentary series on Liverpool in 2008.

He said: “This was the first series with my name on it for 10 years and I was really pleased both with the reception and the viewing figures.

“There are so many poor documentaries around these days, full of false jeopardy and fake emotion so I thought it was important to tell Liverpool’s story in an honest and genuine way.”

He has also presented a radio show about music from Eastern Europe.

Sayle’s most recent television appearances have been a documentary about the John Moores painting prize and a guest lead on Holby City playing a failed comedian with a heart defect and an illegitimate son.

l Following the readings at the Corn Exchange there will be a question and answers session plus a post-show book signing. Tickets cost £13 or £11 for Dorchester Arts Centre members and concessions.

See alexeisayle.me for more information.