DJ kickstarts campaign to get Rik Mayall's 'forgotten' World Cup song to number one

An online campaign has been launched to get late comedian Rik Mayall's forgotten England World Cup anthem to number one in the UK charts.

The DJ behind the campaign that sent Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing in the Name' to Christmas number one in 2009 has kicked off another social media intervention, this time to propel Mayall's more-or-less unheard of 2010 England anthem to top of the pops.

DJ John Morter created a Facebook campaign to honour the Bottom and Drop Dead Fred star, who died earlier this week aged 56. The group has over 10,000 likes so far and is at the heart of the campaign to drive the single to number one.

In the music video, Mayall says reworked lines lifted from Shakespere's Henry V set against a soaring instrumental and a repetitive 'come on you England, you noble Englishmen' football terrace-style chant.

When it was recorded, the comedian said: “Football chants are one of the great traditions of following football and Shakespeare is also part of our national heritage. It seemed only natural that they should go together.”

40-year-old John Morter and his now ex-wife Tracey were the catalyst behind the successful push to break Simon Cowell and X Factor's dominance of the Christmas number one and they hope to the same with this track to honour Mayall's memory.

Read: Sir Cliff Richard pays tribute to 'fan' Rik Mayall

Speaking to the Evening Standard, Mr Morter said;

“It would be a great thing for Rik’s memory. He was a comedy legend. Rage Against The Machine was more of a protest whereas this campaign seems to be a way of displaying respect. It’s a vehicle for a lot of people to say something and it would be a great accolade."

The track has clocked up over 380,000 views on YouTube so far and has crept up to number 28 in the Amazon singles download chart. It it reaches the top of the charts, Morter believes that it would be fitting last hurrah for a "Lion" of British comedy.

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