Clip of Rik Mayall eerily predicting Brexit leaves viewers stunned

A clip of Rik Mayall seemingly predicting Brexit in a 2002 comedy show has gone viral.

Some 14 years before the referendum, Mayall gave the spookily accurate premonition as his character advised a troubled minister: “Your new policy, which will make you wildly popular, is to leave the European Union, block up the Channel tunnel, and reinstate the old imperial measures.”

Mayall’s comments came during his time on the ITV comedy show Believe Nothing, based on the fictional professor Adonis Cnut, Britain’s Cleverest Man.

After a minister’s failed invasion of Cuba, Mayall suggested he set up a ‘Royal Commission’ to leave the European Union and re-instate the old British Imperial Measures.

“Britain will leave the European Union and will once more be a quaint and backward back-water which we’ll be able to manipulate effortlessly as our very own offshore island,” Mayall suggested.

The 18-year-old clip was rediscovered by Hannah McLachlan, who posted it to her Twitter page sparking a huge reaction.

“Scarily accurate. However that was satire and now it’s reality. What a long way the UK has come…” responded one user.

“We thought it was funny then,” said another followed with a crying emoji.

“The canned laughter at how ridiculous it sounds in 2002 sums up the state of this place now,” mused a third.

Over the weekend a new campaign was launched warning businesses that trade with Europe that time is running out to prepare for a no-deal Brexit.

The HMRC is writing to 200,000 firms to set out new customs and tax rules that will be coming into force.

Michael Gove hinted there was now a less than 50 per cent chance of the UK striking a post-Brexit trad deal with the EU.

“Make no mistake, there are changes coming in just 75 days and time is running out for businesses to act,” he warned during an appearance on Sky News on Sunday.

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