Ben Elton

Benjamin Charles Elton, famously known as Ben Elton, is an English comedian, writer and director. He was born on the May 3, 1959, to educational researcher and physicist Lewis Elton. Renowned historian Sir G R Elton is Ben Elton’s uncle.

Ben Elton studied at the Stillness Junior School and Godalming Grammar School in Surrey. He then graduated from the University of Manchester in 1980; shortly after, he became a stand-up comedian and comedy writer. He was a key figure in the alternative comedy scene during the 1980s. Recently, Benjamin has also written lyrics and produced musicals. His career began as a stand-up performer on the ‘BBC2 youth’ and music programme ‘The Oxford Roadshow’. His first major success was at the age of 23, when he co-wrote the television sitcom ‘The Young Ones’. His first solo script for BBC was for the comedy-drama series ‘Happy Families’, in 1985. The same year saw Ben beginning his successful writing career alongside Richard Curtis. The duo together wrote classical comedies such as ‘Blackadder II’, ‘Blackadder the Third’ and ‘Blackadder Goes Forth’. The movie ‘Blackadder’ featuring Rowan Atkinson was an enormous hit, winning four BAFTAs and an Emmy. His first novel titled ‘Stark’ released in 1989, and was a phenomenal success selling over one million copies.

Other famous novels written by Ben Elton include, ‘Gridlock’, ‘This Other Eden’, ‘Popcorn’, ‘Blast from the Past’, ‘Inconceivable’, ‘Dead Famous’, ‘High Society’, ‘Past Mortem’, ‘The First Casualty’, ‘Chart Throb’ and ‘Blind Faith’.

Ben Elton’s contribution to the entertainment industry is one-of-a-kind, which is why he’s gained popularity not only in the United Kingdom but the world over.