Whilst promoting Jonathan Creek, Adrian was interviewed by Belfast News Letter.

Funnyman up the creek before cow slaughter

FUNNY FARM: Adrian Edmondson will leave the cows behind and return to our screens to play a TV producer in Jonathan Creek.

IT COMES as something of a surprise when Adrian Edmondson admits to his latest ambition. He wants to kill a cow and eat it. Not your usual celebrity hobby.

Then again, Edmondson is not your usual celebrity. After all, he's got a successful marriage - having tied the knot 18 years ago with fellow comedienne Jennifer Saunders - three so-far unrebellious daughters and a career which has now lasted for over 20 years. But it's farm animals which are now occupying his thoughts.

The Edmondson clan, who live near Dartmoor, in Devon, have four cows, ten sheep, six chickens and a ram. Their latest exploit is the hiring of a bull to sire some calves.

"I want to eat them," says Edmondson. Then he laughs. "I want to give them names and nurture them, then slaughter them and eat their flesh."

"I'm determined to kill my own cow," he adds. "I've always had a bee in my bonnet about people eating meat that comes in little plastic trays covered in cling film and think we should get closer to what we eat. I don't know if I'll have the nerve to do it, but that's my plan."

But why on earth does Edmondson want to risk the hundreds of letters from upset animal lovers?

"Because I like beef," he says. "And because when my kids were small and we were eating chicken for lunch, they asked whether it was the chicken that had been wandering around and I understood their squeamishness.

"I gave up meat for a while and then thought this is the wrong way to go and decided that what I should get them to do is to kill their own chickens." He laughs.

Saunders, Edmondson and their daughters, 17-year-old Ella (who's in a band), 15-year-old Beattie (who, says her proud father, is a talented comedienne and actress, and 12-year-old Freya (a "fantastic" guitar player), moved from London to Devon a couple of years ago.

"We were sick of London and we enjoy where we live, to the hilt," says Edmondson.

Devon life agrees with Edmondson, 46, who seems happy and relaxed. He's charming, amusing and content to talk about pretty much anything. Even his first marriage, while he was still at Manchester university and only 19-years-old.

"We were married about two-and-a-half years," he says.

The relationship broke up soon after university ended and he and his ex-wife are no longer in touch.

"It was like the break up of most student relationships," he says. "When we left Manchester, it kind of faded out."

Edmondson was just two years older than his daughter Ella when he got married. So what if she wanted to do the same thing?

"I'd let her," he says. "It's not very important. It achieves importance because there's a legal document. It's no more important than shacking up with someone."

Edmondson's oldest daughter has been with her boyfriend for a year. "I thought it would be trouble," he says. "But he's all right. We've taken him on holiday and I haven't shown him the shotgun!"

Next up for Edmondson is a new role in Jonathan Creek, with Alan Davies and Julia Sawalha.

Edmondson plays a TV producer, in a role written for him. He's also in rehearsals for a new play, at Exeter's Northcott Theatre, not far from where he lives.

"I always wanted to be an actor and studied drama at university," he says. "I wanted to do Hamlet, although I missed that vocation."

So does he regret not having fulfilled that ambition?

"No," he says. "I've had a good time and enjoyed different things I've done."

Those include not just comedy series like The Young Ones and Bottom, but theatre (Waiting for Godot with long-term partner Rik Mayall), a best-selling novel (The Gobbler) and even directing pop videos.

He also directed a film, Guest House Paradiso, in which he and Mayall starred. The film was slaughtered by the critics, but it hasn't put him off wanting to do more features.

He's writing a second film, as well as trying his hand at more novels.

But whatever Edmondson does, he always seems overshadowed, either by his wife, or partner Mayall.

"It's obvious that I am," he agrees. "And it's very hard for people to believe I'm not bothered. They see protestations of not caring about it as obvious guilt."

Edmondson claims that Mayall's solo work stopped him from becoming a "major star". But what stopped Edmondson himself?

"Lack of application," he says. "I've never wanted a career. I don't like working and I enjoy other things, like playing music and my farm. I'm good at filling my time."

Living in the country has increased Edmondson's desire to enjoy himself.

His cows may be hoping that all interests leave his latest ambition unfulfilled.