Comedian and author Ben Elton was born in Catford in 1959.

Elton has carved out a successful career for himself as a stand-up comedian and comedy writer, influential in the alternative comedy scene of the early 1980s.

His first success came as co-writer of anarchic sitcom The Young Ones. He then co-write the second and subsequent series of Blackadder, starring Rowan Atkinson. His most recent sitcom was The Thin Blue Line, also starring Atkinson.

Elton has appeared on TV himself in shows such as The Man From Auntie and The Ben Elton Show.

He has used his comedy to good effect in other formats, writing a string of best-selling books and hit plays, including Stark, Gridlock, This Other Eden, Popcorn, Blast From the Past and Inconceivable. The latter was made into a film called Maybe Baby, which Elton directed.

Recently, Elton has moved into musical theatre, co-writing The Beautiful Game with Andrew Lloyd Webber, and rock musicals We Will Rock You and Tonight's The Nigh.

Print

Email this