Nigel Planer was paid around '£400 per episode' for The Young Ones

23 October 2019

Nigel Planer was only paid a "few hundred pounds" per episode for 'The Young Ones'.

The Young Ones

The 66-year-old actor - who played hippy Neil in the sitcom - received a small sum for the 12-episode comedy, in which he starred alongside Adrian Edmondson, Rik Mayall and Christopher Ryan.

Nigel told the Daily Star: "'The Young Ones' was a big hit, but we only made 12 episodes and of course that was our first foray into TV.

"I was only paid a few hundred pounds an episode - maybe £400.

"I do still receive royalties for the show, but that's worked out as a percentage of what I was originally paid. So it's only a little amount."

Nigel admitted his best-earning years were during his time starring in West End musicals.

Asked what was the best year of his financial life, he added to the Mail on Sunday newspaper: "It is a toss-up between 2004 and 2008. Each of those years, I starred in a big hit musical: Wicked and We Will Rock You. I earned a six-figure salary each year.

"The downside was that I had to play the same part eight times a week. You cannot imagine how physically and mentally clobbering that is. It really is tough."

'The Young Ones' came to an end in 1984 after a two-year run on BBC Two.

Nigel reunited last year with his former 'The Young Ones' co-star Adrian for the BBC comedy 'Upstart Crow'.

The show - which centred on William Shakespeare - starred David Mitchell as the British icon.

Adrian played the part of a policeman named Dogberry, and Nigel took on the role of Lord Egeus, a wealthy gentleman.