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Ben Elton

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Ben Elton
AM
Born
Benjamin Charles Elton

(1959-05-03)3 May 1959(age 65)
Fitzrovia,London,England
Citizenship
Alma materUniversity of Manchester
Occupations
Years active1981–present
Notable workThe Young Ones
Blackadder
Spouse
Sophie Gare
​
(m.1994)​
Children3
Parents
Relatives

Benjamin Charles EltonAM(born 3 May 1959) is a British comedian, actor, author, playwright, lyricist and director. He was a part of London'salternative comedymovement of the 1980s and became a writer on the sitcomsThe Young OnesandBlackadder,as well as continuing as a stand-up comedian on stage and television. His style in the 1980s wasleft-wingpolitical satire.Since then he has published 17 novels and written the musicalsThe Beautiful Game(2000),We Will Rock You(2002),Tonight's the Night(2003), andLove Never Dies(2010), the sequel toThe Phantom of the Opera.His novels cover thedystopian,comedy, andcrimegenres.

Early life and education

[edit]

Elton was born atUniversity College HospitalinFitzrovia,London,[1][2]the son of Mary (née Foster), an English teacher fromCheshire,[3]and physicist and educational researcher ProfessorLewis Elton.He is a nephew of the historianSir Geoffrey Eltonand a third cousin of singerOlivia Newton-John.[4][5][6]Elton's father is from aGerman-Jewishfamily and Elton's mother, who was raised in theChurch of England,is of British background.[7][8]

Elton grew up inCatford,south London,before moving with his family toGuildford,Surrey in 1968, where he became involved inamateur dramaticsgroups.[9]Reflecting on those times at an event in Guildford in 2013, Elton said:

I started with the Curtain Raisers in Onslow Village. Yes, we did Peter Pan in 1969 and mum persuaded me to go along to the audition. For me it was literally an Epiphany. My road to Damascus was Friar’s Gate. I had an absolute revelation. I loved the theatre and I knew I wanted to be involved in story telling and the public arts. From that moment onwards I was completely hooked.[9]

Raised in a loving[10]non-religious home,[11]he is anatheist.[12]Elton studied at Stillness Junior School andGodalming Grammar Schoolin Surrey, before leaving home at age 16 to study theatre atSouth Warwickshire CollegeinStratford-upon-Avon,[13]where he took and passedA-levelsin English, History and Theatre Studies. In 1977 he went to study drama at theUniversity of Manchester,where he metRik MayallandAde Edmondson,and in 1980 he graduated withupper second-class honours.[14][15]

Work

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Television

[edit]

Upon university graduation in 1980, Elton joined the BBC and became their youngest ever scriptwriter.[16]

His first television appearance came in 1981 as a stand-up performer on the BBC1 youth and music programmeOxford Road Show.[17][16]His first TV success, at 23, came as co-writer of the television sitcomThe Young Ones,in which he occasionally appeared.

In 1983/84 he wrote and appeared inGranada Television's sketch showAlfresco,which was also notable for early appearances byStephen Fry,Hugh Laurie,Emma ThompsonandRobbie Coltrane.In 1985, Elton produced his first solo script for the BBC with his comedy-drama seriesHappy Families,starringJennifer SaundersandAdrian Edmondson.Elton appeared in the fifth episode as a liberal prison governor. Shortly afterwards, he reunitedRik Mayalland Edmondson with theirYoung Onesco-starNigel Planerfor the showbiz send-up sitcomFilthy, Rich & Catflap.

In 1985 Elton began his writing partnership withRichard Curtis.Together they wroteBlackadder II,Blackadder the Third(in one episode, Elton appeared as a bomb-wielding anarchist),Blackadder Goes Forthand a failed sitcom pilot forMadness.Blackadder,starringRowan Atkinson,was a worldwide hit, winning fourBAFTAsand anEmmy.

Elton and Curtis were inspired to writeBlackadder Goes Forthupon findingWorld War Ito be apt for a situation comedy. This series, which dealt with greater, darker themes than priorBlackadderepisodes, was praised for Curtis's and Elton's scripts, in particularthe final episode.Before writing the series, the pair read about the war and found that:

All the lead up to the first World War was very funny. All the people coming from communities where they'd never bumped into posh people and all being so gung ho and optimistic. The first hundred pages of any book about the world war are hilarious, then of course everybody dies.[18]

Elton and Curtis also wrote Atkinson's 1986 stage showThe New Revue,andMr. Bean's "exam" episode.

Elton became a stand-up comedian primarily to showcase his own writing, but became one of Britain's biggest live comedy acts.[19]After a regular slot onSaturday Live– later moved and renamedFriday Night Live– which was seen as a UK version of the US'sSaturday Night Live,he became the host of the programme.

In 1990 he starred in his own stand-up comedy and sketch series,Ben Elton: The Man from Auntie,which had a second series in 1994. (The title plays onThe Man from UNCLE:"Auntie" is a nickname for the BBC.) In 1989 Elton won the Royal Television Society Writers' Award.

The Ben Elton Show(1998) followed a format similar toThe Man from Auntieand featuredRonnie Corbett,a comedian of the old guard that the "alternative comedians"of the 1980s were the direct alternative to, as a regular guest. It was Elton's last high-profile network programme in the UK as a stand-up comedian.

Elton wrote the six-part sitcomBlessed,starringArdal O'Hanlonas a record producer, first broadcast on BBC1 in 2005. No further series was commissioned.

In April 2007,Get a Grip,a new show, began onITV1.Featuring comic sketches similar to those onThe Ben Elton Showand staged studio discussion between Elton and 23-year-oldAlexa Chung,the show's aim was to "contrast Elton's middle-aged viewpoint with Chung's younger perspective" (although Elton was responsible for the scripts).

InThird Way Magazine,Elton accused the BBC of allowing jokes aboutvicarsbut notimams."And I believe that part of it is due to the genuine fear that the authorities and the communities have about provoking the radical elements ofIslam".[20]

On 10 October 2010, Elton headlined the first episode ofDave's One Night Stand.

Elton worked onBen Elton Live From Planet Earth,aliveone-hour comedy show which debuted on 8 February 2011 on theNine Networkin Australia.[21]Live from Planet Earth was axed by the Nine Network on Wednesday 23 February 2011 after three episodes, despite having six commissioned.[22]The show's final airing rated 200,000 viewers.[23]

In 2016 Elton wrote the sitcomUpstart Crow,parodying the writing and family life ofWilliam Shakespeare,and starringDavid Mitchellas Shakespeare. This programme ran for a second series in 2017, and a third series in 2018.

In June 2023, Elton presentedBen Elton: The Great Railway Disaster,aChannel 4documentary aboutrail privatisation.[24]

As writer and producer

[edit]

Elton wrote and producedThe Thin Blue Line,a studio-based sitcom set in a police station, also starring Rowan Atkinson, which ran for two series in 1995 and 1996. A prime-time family show, its traditional format and characters won it the 1995 British Comedy Award and both the public and professional Jury Awards at Reims.

In 2012 a new sitcom for BBC1 was commissioned, written and produced by Elton starringDavid Haig.[25]Filming for a full six-part series of the sitcomThe Wright Way(formerly known asSlings and Arrows) was completed in late February 2013.[26]It debuted in April 2013 to negative reviews.[27][28]

Friday Night Live

Elton returned to live British television on Channel 4 on 21 October 2022 as "Ringmaster" /host of a revival ofFriday Night Live,celebrating the 40th anniversary of the founding of Channel 4 and as part of theirTruth and Dareseason.[29]Speaking toAdrian ChilesonBBC Radio 5 Liveon broadcast day, Elton readily admitted that because of the fluid UK political situation, "I honestly haven't written the first five minutes yet!"[30][31]

Radio

[edit]

Elton starred withAdrian Edmondsonin a sitcom based on the song "Teenage Kicks"forBBC Radio 2.A television version ofTeenage KicksforITVhas been made; Elton appeared in the pilot but was replaced byMark Ardenwhen it went to series production.

Novels

[edit]

He has written 16 novels since 1989, the first four published by Simon and Schuster, and the rest by Transworld.

On a publicity tour forPast Mortemin 2004, Elton mused on the high school reunion theme and his own drama college reunion:

We'd had a very happy time all together, so there were no old scores to be settled really, we'd been a pretty happy bunch. And yet one person, who'd been a bit of a golden boy – he certainly went out with a girl I was besotted and unrequitedly in love with – he came up and he said, 'Why did you come? Was it to show off?' That really surprised me, that anyone would think that... he came kind of carrying my agenda. It was weird. I hasten to add I didn't think my life to be more successful than anybody else's. If you're happy and honest and fulfilled in what you do, then you're having a successful life.[33]

Films

[edit]

Elton appeared in amateur dramatic productions as a youth, notably asThe Artful Dodgerin the musicalOliver![34]

While in bit parts in his own TV series, he began professional film acting as CD inStark,the Australian/BBC TV series adaptation of his novel, in 1993. This was directed byNadia Tassand filmed in Australia.

Elton played Verges inKenneth Branagh's film adaptation ofWilliam Shakespeare'sMuch Ado About Nothing,also in 1993.[35]

Behind the camera

[edit]

Elton wrote and directed the film adaptation of his novelInconceivable,under the titleMaybe Baby(2000) starringHugh LaurieandJoely Richardson.It was a moderate UK success and distributed globally. The film was also nominated for a prize at Germany's Emden Film Festival.

In 2015, Elton wrote a song forThe Wigglesfor the Wiggle Town DVD and CD:The Wonder of Wiggle Town.[36]

In September 2016, filming began in Western Australia onThree Summers,a romantic comedy film written and directed by Elton, which was released in 2017.[37]

Elton wroteAll is True,released 2018, a speculative story ofWilliam Shakespeare's years inStratford-upon-Avonafter his retirement from the theatre and move from London. Along with the filmcraft and acting, returning collaboration withKenneth Branagh,All is Trueshows Elton giving a more serious and biographical perspective to some of the same characters who appear inUpstart Crow.

Musicals

[edit]

Elton collaborated withAndrew Lloyd WebberonThe Beautiful Gamein 2000, writing the book and lyrics (Lloyd Webber wrote the music).The Beautiful Gamewon the London Critics Circle Award for best new musical.

He went on to write compilation shows featuring popular songs from the catalogues of pop/rock artists. The first was the musicalWe Will Rock Youwith music byQueen.Despite unfavourable early reaction, this was successful in theWest Endand won the 2003 Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best New Musical.[38]It has since opened in the US, Australia, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Japan, Germany,Switzerland,Sweden, Canada, and TheNetherlands.Elton also directed the 10th Anniversary Arena tour, in 2013.[39]The musical ran for 12 years in London.[40]The character of Pop was originally played by Elton'sThe Young Ones,co-star,Nigel Planer.

His second compilation musical wasTonight's the Night,based on the songs ofRod Stewart,which opened in London's West End in November 2003.[41]

Elton worked withAndrew Lloyd Webberon the musicalLove Never Dies,which opened in London's West End in 2010. It was the sequel to Lloyd Webber'sThe Phantom of the Opera(1986).[42]

Elton directed a new 20th anniversary tour ofWe Will Rock You,that opened in February 2022 and visited over 25 cities in the United Kingdom.[43]He will also make his theatre debut as the Rebel Leader (previously known as Pop) in a production of the show in 2023 at theLondon Coliseumfrom 2 June to 27 August. The 3 main cast members from the touring production will also be starring.[44]

Elton wrote and directedClose Up: The Twiggy Musical(2023) which had its world premier at the Menier Chocolate Factory, London.

Stage

[edit]

Elton has written five West End plays.

  • Gasping(1990) was first performed at theTheatre Royal Haymarket,London. It starredHugh Laurieand featured the voice ofStephen Fry.
  • Silly Cow(1991) again at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London. It was written for and starredDawn French.
  • Popcorn(1996) was adapted for the stage and went on a UK tour. It also toured Australia in a production starringMarcus GrahamandNadine Garnerin its Eastern-States seasons.Popcornwon theTMABarclays Theatre Award for new play and theOlivier Awardfor comedy. The Paris production ofPopcornran for a year and was nominated for seven Molière awards.
  • Blast From the Past(1998) was also adapted for the stage and was produced at theWest Yorkshire Playhouse.
  • The Upstart Crow,like the TV seriesUpstart Crow,a comic version ofWilliam Shakespeare's life and society, and sharing some of the same actors and characters, opened in London on 7 February 2020. StarringDavid Mitchellas Shakespeare andGemma Whelanas Kate, the play was intended to run until 25 April 2020, but only ran up to mid-March, with the remainder cancelled as a result of restrictions put in place due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[45]The play reopened in the West End at theApollo Theatrefor a ten-week season from 23 September until 3 December 2022.

Stand-up comedy

[edit]

In 1981 Elton was hired byThe Comedy Storein London ascompère.[16]

He made two albums of comedy,Motormouth(1987) andMotorvation(1988).

In 2005 Elton toured for the first time since 1997, touring the UK withGet a Grip.He toured Australia and New Zealand with the same show in 2006.

In September 2019, Elton embarked on a three-month UK stand-up tour, his first tour since 2005.[46]

The New Zealand leg of the tour was interrupted in February 2020 by theCOVID-19 pandemic.He resumed it over a year later once trans-Tasman quarantine-free travel was launched.[47]

In 2022, his sell out UK stand up final show was held at thePalace Theatre Southend.It was filmed for broadcast on free to air,Channel 4.[48]His stand up tour "Authentic Stupidity" is due to tour the UK and Ireland in 2024.[49]

Awards

[edit]

Elton received an honorary doctorate in 2004, from The University of Manchester.[50]In 2007 he was awarded an Honorary Rose for lifetime achievement at theRose d'Or festival,[51]and was also made a Companion of theLiverpool Institute for Performing Arts,in recognition of his work with students.[52]He has won 3 BAFTAs for Best Comedy Series forThe Young Ones,Blackadder the ThirdandBlackadder Goes Forth.PopcornandWe Will Rock Youeach won anOlivier Award[53][54]andThe Beautiful Gamewas awarded the Best Musical at theCritics' Circle Awards.[55]The Man From Auntiewon him a Royal Television Society Writer's Award andThe Thin Blue Linewon a British Comedy Award as well as Jury Award at Reims.[56]The 2022 revival of Channel 4's "Friday Night Live" won a Royal Television Society Award and BAFTA for Best Comedy Entertainment programme. Ben Elton has also been awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

His books have won the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger Award for Crime Fiction (Popcorn), the Swedish Kaliber Award (Popcorn), WH Smiths People's Choice Fiction Award (High Society) and Prix Polar International Crime Writer Award (Amitiès MortellesforPast Mortem,French edition).[57]

Personal life

[edit]

Elton first met 18 year old Australian saxophone player Sophie Gare in 1986 while working in Melbourne (he had a girlfriend called Kate at the time). A year later in Edinburgh, a newly single Elton rekindled their friendship and they became a couple.[58]The two married in 1994[59]and have three children (including twins). They decided to settle inNorth Fremantle,Western Australia[60]and they also maintain a home inEast Sussex,England.[60]Elton holds dual British/Australiancitizenship, the latter since 2004.[61]He has speculated on a future move back to London when their children have completed their schooling.[62]

Elton has been nominated three times for the television seriesRoom 101,firstly by broadcasterAnne Robinsonin 2001,[63]secondly by comedianMark Steel,[64]and also by comedianStewart Lee,who described Elton "as ranking lower ethically thanOsama bin Laden".[65]

Political views

[edit]

Elton championsleft-wingpolitical positions. Prior to the1987 UK general election,Elton supportedRed Wedgeby participating in a comedy tour organised by the campaign.[66]

Elton was a longstandingLabour Partysupporter and was named as one of the biggest private financial donors to the party in 1998.[67]Elton subsequently distanced himself from the party underTony Blair,although in April 2015, he stated that he was "back with Labour" for thegeneral election.[68]

Responding to criticism for writing a musical withConservative PartysupporterAndrew Lloyd Webber,Elton said, "If I were to refuse to talk toTories,I would narrow my social and professional scope considerably. If you judge all your relationships on a person's voting intentions, I think you miss out on the varieties of life. "[69]Elton added, "I would have loved a honeymoon period, but I've been irritatingjournosfrom the beginning. Originally I was knocked for being too left-wing, and now apparently I've sold out and I'm tooright-wing,but all the time I've been being me, and that certainly isn't the person I recognise in anything that's written about me. "He has denied being anti-establishment. He also said he was a socialist at a time when" the media was on the whole slavishly worshipping ofThatcher".[70]He said of his political views, "I believe in the politics ofClement Attlee.I'm aWelfare StateLabour voter. "[70]

Elton parodied himself in the sketch "Benny Elton" forHarry Enfield and Chumsin 1994, using the style ofBenny Hillto send up his (Elton's) "right on" socialist image as a politically correct spoilsport, chasingPage 3models around a park to chastise them and trickingheterosexualcouples into becominggay.[71]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Private Ben".The Independent.3 October 1999.Retrieved23 April2015.
  2. ^"Ben Elton".British Comedy Guide.Retrieved13 November2020.
  3. ^"Relative Values: Ben Elton and his father".The Sunday Times.News UK.15 March 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 11 November 2014.Retrieved23 April2015.
  4. ^Kennedy, Maev (10 January 2012)."Picasso, Cocteau and Chagall paintings to be exhibited at Lightbox in Woking".The Guardian.London.
  5. ^Rich, Mari; Smith, Olivia J.; Thompson, Clifford (2003).World Authors, 1995–2000.H.W. Wilson.ISBN9780824210328.
  6. ^G. V. R. Born (2002)."The wide–ranging family history of Max Born".Notes and Records.56(2). The Royal Society: 219–262.doi:10.1098/rsnr.2002.0180.S2CID72026412.
  7. ^"Elton sees stupid future".Star Times.Archived fromthe originalon 30 January 2008.Retrieved1 November2009.
  8. ^"Asia Africa Intelligence Wire (2004)".Accessmylibrary.17 April 2004.Retrieved1 November2009.
  9. ^ab"Ben Elton Recounts His Guildford Childhood As He Helps Celebrate Institute's Refurbishment".The Guildford Dragon.24 October 2013.Retrieved23 April2015.
  10. ^Ashe, Eliza (1 December 2012)."What I know about women".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved21 October2022.
  11. ^"Brothers divided for the most extreme reasons".This is Lincolnshire. 29 November 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 28 September 2013.Retrieved2 February2013.
  12. ^Tryhorn, Chris (2 April 2008)."BBC 'scared' of Islam jokes, says Elton".The Guardian.Retrieved5 March2014.Elton described himself as an atheist but said he was in favour of God defined as "the mystery of the universe".
  13. ^"Ben Elton: I was never able to say goodbye to Rik".The Big Issue.2 July 2018.Retrieved14 November2020.
  14. ^"Ben Elton: You ask the questions".The Independent.17 April 2002.Retrieved14 November2020.
  15. ^Housham, David (1992).Funny Business.Boxtree. p. 80.ISBN9781852837921.
  16. ^abcGuardian Staff (24 May 2000)."Ben Elton: from Peter Pan to Maybe Baby".The Guardian.Retrieved21 October2022.
  17. ^"BFI Screenonline: Elton, Ben (1958-) Biography".screenonline.org.uk.Retrieved14 November2020.
  18. ^"I Have a Cunning Plan: 20 Years of Blackadder".BBC Radio 4.3 June 2003.Retrieved23 April2015.
  19. ^"Brisbane – Ben Elton – Queensland Performing Arts Centre".Ourbrisbane.Archived fromthe originalon 30 September 2007.Retrieved1 November2009.
  20. ^Cary, James."Positive spin".Third Way.Archived fromthe originalon 6 October 2014.Retrieved21 July2013.
  21. ^Quinn, Karl:Turning back the clock for old-style TV variety,The Age,8 February 2011.
  22. ^"Elton's live comedy show dies after three episodes".The Sydney Morning Herald.24 February 2011.
  23. ^"Nine axes Elton's comedy show – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)".ABC News.23 February 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 28 June 2011.Retrieved11 August2011.
  24. ^"Ben Elton: The Great Railway Disaster".radiotimes.Retrieved28 June2023.
  25. ^"New sitcom from Ben Elton".TV Tonight.3 August 2012.Retrieved2 February2013.
  26. ^Patrick Munn (5 January 2013)."Kacey Ainsworth, Rufus Jones & Michael Falzon Cast in BBC One's Ben Elton Sitcom".Retrieved28 January2013.
  27. ^Cole, Tom."Ben Elton's The Wright Way rubs critics up the wrong way".Radio Times.Retrieved27 April2013.
  28. ^Sherwin, Adam (24 April 2013)."Ben Elton mauled by critics after getting BBC sitcom The Wright Way badly wrong".The Independent.Retrieved27 April2013.
  29. ^"Harry Enfield, Jo Brand, Julian Clary and more join Ben Elton for Friday Night Live | Channel 4".channel4.Retrieved21 October2022.
  30. ^"TV tonight: for one night only, Ben Elton hosts Friday Night Live".The Guardian.21 October 2022.Retrieved21 October2022.
  31. ^"Friday Night Live announces star-studded line-up for Channel 4 return".Radio Times.Retrieved21 October2022.
  32. ^"Identity Crisis".Retrieved12 April2019.
  33. ^"Steve Dow, journalist".Stevedow.au.Retrieved11 August2011.
  34. ^Stephanie Merritt (7 November 2004).Guardian Unlimited Books – Mystery Man.Retrieved11 August2011.{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help)
  35. ^Willis, Andrew (2004).Film stars: Hollywood and beyond.Manchester:Manchester University Press.p. 169.ISBN0-7190-5645-4.
  36. ^Reid, Kate (23 February 2016)."Wiggling into Penrith".Westernweekender.au.Retrieved7 August2018.
  37. ^"Ben Elton reveals Aussie movie".News.au.Retrieved2 August2017.
  38. ^Alan Bird (17 May 2002)."We Will Rock You".Londontheatre.co.uk.Retrieved15 March2013.
  39. ^Erin James (8 July 2012)."We Will Rock You revival set to tour Australia, arena style".AussieTheatre.Retrieved15 March2013.
  40. ^Moreton, Cole (11 November 2014)."Ben Elton, interview: 'Michael Gove made an arse of himself'".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved23 April2015.
  41. ^"Tonights The Night London theatre stage show".thisistheatre.Retrieved15 November2020.
  42. ^"Love Never Dies | The Show | A Note From The Composer".8 March 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 8 March 2010.Retrieved15 November2020.
  43. ^"We Will Rock You 20th anniversary tour to be directed by Ben Elton | WhatsOnStage".whatsonstage.19 November 2021.Retrieved22 November2021.
  44. ^""We Will Rock You" announces full West End cast – with Ben Elton set to make stage debut ".12 April 2023.
  45. ^"West End and UK Theatre venue performances cancelled due to coronavirus".What's on Stage.16 March 2020.Retrieved2 April2020.
  46. ^"Ben Elton's first tour in 15 years!".7 December 2018.
  47. ^ Schulz, Chris (6 May 2021)."Ben Elton on his NZ tour: 'I'm coming raw and ready'".Stuff.Retrieved22 May2021.
  48. ^Bennett, Steve."Ben Elton and James Acaster's stand-up specials air this week: News 2023: Chortle: The UK Comedy Guide".chortle.co.uk.Retrieved16 December2023.
  49. ^"Ben Elton - Authentic Stupidity Tickets - London Theatre | West End Theatre".westendtheatre.10 April 2024.Retrieved11 June2024.
  50. ^"Honorary encore for Ben".Manchester Evening News.12 August 2004.Retrieved2 November2021.
  51. ^"Channel 4 wins five Rose d'Or awards".The Guardian.10 May 2007.Retrieved2 November2021.
  52. ^Jones, Catherine (24 June 2007)."Macca school gong for star turns".Liverpool Echo.Retrieved2 November2021.
  53. ^"Olivier Winners 1998".Olivier Awards.Retrieved2 November2021.
  54. ^"Olivier Winners 2011".Olivier Awards.Retrieved2 November2021.
  55. ^"Critics honour Beautiful Game".BBC News.15 February 2001.Retrieved2 November2021.
  56. ^"Ben Elton".Andrew Lloyd Webber Show Licensing.Retrieved11 June2024.
  57. ^"Ben Elton".Enhance Entertainment.Retrieved11 June2024.
  58. ^Ashe, Eliza (1 December 2012)."What I know about women".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved22 October2022.
  59. ^Wake, Jacqueline (6 July 2000)."Face of the day: Ben Elton".The Herald Scotland.
  60. ^ab"Ben Elton set to call Freo home | The West Australian".Yahoo! News. 12 November 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 2 December 2011.Retrieved11 August2011.
  61. ^"Ben Elton to showcase Western Australia | Tourism Western Australia".14 November 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 14 November 2006.Retrieved11 August2011.
  62. ^Lang, Kirsty(5 November 2014)."Ben Elton inspired by Michael Gove Blackadder criticism".BBC Radio 4.Retrieved23 April2015.
  63. ^"Anne Robinson Fan club - Articles, Interviews, Facts".annerobinsonfanclub.co.uk.Retrieved22 October2022.
  64. ^"Room 101 Series 11, Episode 4".British Comedy Guide.Retrieved20 February2024.
  65. ^Cavendish, Dominic (10 December 2021)."Ben Elton: 'I recognise Mrs Thatcher was a woman of principle'".The Telegraph.ISSN0307-1235.Retrieved22 October2022.
  66. ^"Where will the next generation get its political anthems from?".Labour List.Archived fromthe originalon 16 July 2011.
  67. ^"'Luvvies' for Labour ".BBC News.30 August 1998.Retrieved26 April2010.
  68. ^Elton, Ben (4 April 2015)."Comedian Ben Elton hits out at Myleene Klass over her mansion tax claims".The Guardian.Retrieved23 April2015.
  69. ^Close (30 May 2000)."Ben Elton live on our talkboards".The Guardian.London.Retrieved1 November2009.
  70. ^ab"I've been irritating journos from the beginning".Sunday Herald.August 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 23 March 2015.
  71. ^Stas Bekman (5 March 1989)."05 Television (all broadcast dates are UK unless otherwise stated) (Ben Elton)".Stason.org.Retrieved11 August2011.
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