Rik Mayall cause of death: Post-mortem will be carried out to determine how comedian died

The results are not expected for release until Friday 13 June

Rik Mayall stars in 'The Young Ones', 1981

A post-mortem will be carried out today, Thursday 12 June, to determine how Rik Mayall died, West London Coroner's Court has confirmed.

The results are not expected to be released before Friday 13 June when the coroner will decide whether or not to launch an inquest.

The comedian died 9 June, aged 56.

His cause of death is still unknown, although friend and former colleague Peter Richardson has said that it could have been a “seizure of some sort”.

His son was “happily chatting” to the Blackadder and The Young Ones actor only half an hour before his death.

In 1998, Mayall was left in a coma for several days after a serious quad bike accident. He recovered, but was left with epilepsy – for which he took daily medication.

His wife, Barbara Robbin – with whom Mayall had three children – also confirmed that no reason for his death had been found.

“We don't know yet what happened,” she said. “He had a strong heart, so I don't think it was a heart attack. But we just don't know until the coroner's report.

“Maybe he had a fit, maybe it was his heart. We just don't know.”

Mayall has entered the Official Top 40 this week, with his ‘lost’ World Cup anthem, entitled Noble England. The track currently stands at 38 in the chart and is expected to rise as the week continues, following a social media campaign launched by fans to revive the song.

Noble England failed to make an entry upon its initial release in 2010.

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