Ben Elton

Ben Elton

Ben Elton (Benjamin Charles Elton) was born on May 3rd, 1959 and is currently 66 years old. Ben Elton was born in Fitzrovia, London, England. Elton attended the University of Manchester where he received an Undergraduate Degree.

Ben Elton is a dramatist, comic actor, screenwriter, novelist, screenwriter, and stand-up comedian who made his name during the 1980s as a leading voice in comedy in the United Kingdom.

His breakout was the 1982 sitcom The Young Ones, which he wrote alongside Rik Mayall. Thereafter, he worked with Richard Curtis on the Rowan Atkinson-starring series Blackadder, which cemented his position as one of the most promising voices in alternative comedy.

Aside from his skills as a writer, Ben Elton was a renowned stand-up comedian famous for his Saturday Live performances, characterized by his fast-paced delivery.

Elton’s comedy often made fun of the likes of Margaret Thatcher, the Prime Minister, thus setting the tone for the socially aware and sharp humor in British comedy. Besides performing, he has also been involved in the writing of the Mr Bean series and the Rowan Atkinson Live stand-up special.

Ben has also worked in TV and film, including the likes of shows such as Upstart Crow and The Thin Blue Line. He was also the director of the films Three Summers and Maybe Baby.

While he never focused on acting, Ben Elton had several roles in the 1993 release Much Ado About Nothing.

Following years working as a writer, he made a comeback to the stage in 2019 with the Ben Elton Live tours, followed by Authentic Stupidity in 2024.

Ben Elton made his debut as a novelist in 2005 with the publication of The First Casualty, a work set in Flanders in June 1917.

A famous poet soldier who was recovering from shell shock is found shot dead, with a young English soldier believed to be responsible. Douglas Kingsley, the detective who is brought in to work on the case, even though he refused to join the war.

He will have to deal with chaos and mud at the Third Battle of Ypres, where he soon learns that the first thing to be destroyed often is the truth.

In his work, Two Brothers, Ben Elton follows the story of Paulus and Otto Stengel from Berlin, who were raised under one roof, even though one of them was adopted.

But then their childhood starts coming apart when one brother joins the Waffen-SS while the other is a member of the British Army. But their bond is challenged by hidden identities, loving the same girl, and the pressures of war.

It is a story that shows how people can be torn apart by fanaticism, even as it shows how families can go through dark times and still survive.

Ben Elton also dabbled in non-fiction when he published Bachelor Boy, a mock magazine-style work that found inspiration in The Young Ones spin-off.

It is a second spin-off of the show in written format that delves into healthcare, theatre, guns, politics, and student parties. It is a work that brings the silly and wild spirit of the TV show, as it also comes with offbeat humor and irreverent jokes.

Ben Elton: Awards & Accolades

Elton's books have won multiple awards, Popcorn won the Crime Writer's Association Award, Gold Dagger Award, in 1996. Dead Famous won the Swedish Crime Writer’s Academy Awards, The Martin Beck Award, in 2003 as well as the Nielsen Awards - Gold Bestseller in 2018.

Elton's book, Time and Time Again was nominated for the RUSA Awards, Science Fiction Award, in 2017.

Related Authors

Fans of Ben Elton also enjoy these authors:

1. Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
2. Dan Brown, author of the Robert Langdon Series.
3. Richard Osman, author of the Thursday Murder Club Series.
4. Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher Series.
5. James Patterson, author of the Alex Cross Series.

Ben Elton: F.A.Q