Meet Ben Elton, who has kept UK audiences (plus a huge worldwide fanbase) laughing with stellar standup, superb comedy writing, movies and tv shows, plays and musical theater projects, and 16 books. Busy lad! Ben was a comedy prodigy, becoming the BBC's youngest ever scriptwriter. Since then he has remained at the top of the pack, with his work on the classic "Blackadder" show, hosting Britain's late night show "Saturday Live, collaborating with Andrew Lloyd Webber, and mounting a triumphant return to the standup stage. Ben Elton always delivers comedy that is witty, erudite, and yes -- sometimes silly (as only the Brits can do). Find more Ben Elton clips below and thanks for sharing our shows.
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Britain's "Saturday Live" is similar to Saturday Night Live in the US, so it was a BIG deal when Ben was chosen to host that program back in 1986. Here's a sample of his standup from that show. https://youtu.be/Ptx_H2XWGV8
Almost 40 years ago fellow Legend Lenny Henry founded Britain's "Comic Relief", a charity that uses humor to raise funds to fight poverty, and Ben has been a frequent and enthusiastic participant throughout. This bit from 1993 is a great slice of Ben's standup. https://youtu.be/wEmraVcf7QQ
While many know Ben best through his writing, he is also a superb standup (a skill he developed to showcase his writing). In this recent bit, Ben spends some time recounting classic British town names with special attention reserved for his hometown -- Catford. https://youtu.be/dd2s_13wDd0