Ben Elton

Born Benjamin Charles Elton on 3 May 1959 Catford, South London. The youngest of 4 children, his family were distinguished academics who fled in 1938 to England escape Hitler's anti-Semitism. His father and uncle were University Professors.

Ben attended Godalming Grammar school where he joined amateur dramatic societies writing his first play at 15. He orginally wanted to be a stagehand at the local theatre, but instead Studies A-Level Theatre and later studied drama at Manchester University in 1977. This is where he met Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson.

After graduation he started his career as a stand-up comedian and by 1981 had joined with Rik Ade at the Comedy Store, originally writing his own material. But later he wrote and acted in television. He wrote novels, plays and screenplays, whilst still peforming his stand-up routine.

Other work as well as the infamous co-writer of the comedy series 'The Young Ones'. His other work includes "Blackadder" (with Rihcard Curtis), "The Thin Blue Line". He also provided lyrics for Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical, The Beautiful Game, which was nominated for Best Musical at the Laurence Olivier Theatre Awards in 2001. His comedy, Popcorn performed at the Apollo Theatre, was awarded the 1998 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best New Comedy of the 1997.

Ben has also acted , written and directed for the big screen. He starred in Much Ado about Nothing with Kenneth Brannah and directed Maybe Baby.

Ben is married to Sophie Gare, who plays saxophone in the group 'The Boom Babies'. He has 3 children, Bert, Lottie and Fred.


Biography
  • Maybe Baby
  • Blackadder Back & Forth
  • "The Ben Elton Show"
  • Ben Elton Live
  • The Best Bits of Mr. Bean
  • "The Thin Blue Line"
  • Stark
  • Rowan Atkinson Live
  • "Ben Elton: The Man from Auntie"
  • The Last Laugh
  • "Mr. Bean"
  • "Blackadder Goes Forth"
  • Blackadder's Christmas Carol
  • "Friday Night Live"
  • Blackadder: The Cavalier Years
  • "Blackadder the Third"
    "Filthy Rich & Catflap"
  • "Saturday Live"
  • "Lenny Henry Tonite"
  • Comic Relief
  • "Blackadder II"
    "Happy Families"
  • "Spitting Image"
  • "Alfresco"
  • "The Young Ones"

We will Rock you with ex Queen band members

Very early Ben pic with a young Rowan

News
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Did you know?
  • Ben's grandfather was a classical historian in Prague who lost his professorship when Hitler invaded.
  • Ben is an avid supporter of the Labour Party. he been quoted as saying about politics "We've all got to look at ourselves, start with yourself, that's all you can do. I believe that we can act responsibly as a group, it's just that there are vested interests telling us not to bother."
  • His influences are listed as Noel Coward and Morecambe and Wise!
  • His rapid-fire delivery meant he got through twice the material of others, and stopped hecklers in their tracks
  • He and Andrew Lloyd Webber were awarded the 2000 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama) for Best New Musical for The Beautiful Game performed at the Cambridge Theatre.

Researched from various sources on the net, Local Comedy Connections accept on responsiblity for the accuracy of this article.

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