Ben Elton

Already a successful comedian, Ben Elton turned to writing situation comedies during the 1980s and penned BBC classics such as "The Young Ones" (1982), "Black-Adder II" (1986), "Black Adder the Third" (1987), "Blackadder 4" (1989) and during the 1990s "The Thin Blue Line" (1995). He provided lyrics for Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, "The Beautiful Game", which was nominated for Best Musical at the Laurence Olivier Theatre Awards in 2001 (2000 season). His comedy, "Popcorn", performed at the Apollo Theatre, was awarded the 1998 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best New Comedy of the 1997 season. He and Andrew Lloyd Webber were awarded the 2000 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama) for Best New Musical for "The Beautiful Game", performed at the Cambridge Theatre. Has three children : Bert, Lottie and Fred. Is co-writer of the Queen Musical 'We Will Rock You' with the band itself. He and Richard Curtis were offered the chance to write "Police Academy - The London Beat", but turned it down. Was a host of The Prince's Trust 30th Birthday: Live (2006) (TV).

Works

Ben Elton: Live

Era-defining comedian Ben Elton returns to stand up comedy. The ‘Godfather’ of modern British stand up is back behind the mic bringing his hilarious perspectives on the modern world.

Release Date2022-10-24

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

CharacterSelf

Vote Count2

The Many Faces of Ronnie Barker

Programme telling the story of Ronnie Barker, a quiet dedicated actor who might have been a bank manager but went on to become one of the country's favourite comedy stars. Ben Elton, Michael Grade, David Renwick and Josephine Tewson are among friends and colleagues who remember his genius. Famed as one half of the Two Ronnies and the likeable convict Fletcher in Porridge, he was also a prolific writer and admired actor in serious roles.

Release Date2012-12-24

CharacterSelf

Vote Count1

Blackadder's Most Cunning Moments

A countdown of the top 40 "Blackadder" moments chosen by cast and crew members, celebrity fans and 15 genuine Blackadders.

Release Date2008-10-16

CharacterSelf

Vote Count1

Blackadder Exclusive: The Whole Rotten Saga

To mark the 25th anniversary since the first transmission of Blackadder in 1983, the iconic cast of the much-loved sitcom appear together in a documentary for the first time. The show includes an exclusive in-depth interview with Edmund Blackadder himself, Rowan Atkinson - the first time he has agreed to be interviewed about his experience making the show.

Release Date2008-10-09

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

CharacterSelf

Vote Count10

Rowan Atkinson Live

Rowan Atkinson and Angus Deayton in Boston doing a live performance of the same styles of humor we've seen in Mr. Bean and Blackadder. Included are lessons on Shakespearean acting, a school headmaster meeting with the father of a boy he's beaten to death, and tips for having a successful date.

Release Date1992-03-01

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count43

Mr. Bean

Mr Bean turns simple everyday tasks into chaotic situations and will leave you in stitches as he creates havoc wherever he goes.

Release Date1990-01-01

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Episode Count2

Vote Count1412

Blackadder

Black Adder traces the deeply cynical and self-serving lineage of various Edmund Blackadders throughout British history, from the muck of the Middle Ages to the frontline of the First World War.

Release Date1983-06-15

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

CharacterAnarchist

Episode Count18

Vote Count480

The Young Ones

The misadventures of four lunatic students who live in a shared student house. There's Rick, the overblown political one addicted to Cliff Richard, Vyvyan the experimental scientific one/part-time anarchist, Neil the worried hippy, and Mike the ladies' man (at least he is in his mind).

Release Date1982-11-09

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

CharacterBaz

Episode Count12

Vote Count134

Blackadder's Christmas Carol

After a genial spirit shows the benevolent Ebenezer Blackadder visions of his unscrupulous ancestors, he resolves to mend his generous ways.

Release Date1988-12-23

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count22

Blackadder Rides Again

This documentary marks the 25th anniversary since the first transmission of The Black Adder in 1983 and reunites the iconic cast to give their opinions on all series and specials. Narrated by John Sergeant, this in-depth guide includes interviews from the cast and crew, a clip from the pilot episode, clips from all four series and the specials, opinions about certain moments in the show, and much more. With interviews by Rowan Atkinson, writers Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, producer John Lloyd, Miriam Margolyes, Rik Mayall, Tim McInnerny, Miranda Richardson, Tony Robinson and editor Chris Wadsworth.

Release Date2008-12-25

Characterhimself

Vote Count18

Mr. Bean Takes an Exam

Mr. Bean realizes he doesn't know the answers to his exam paper and tries desperately to copy from the man seating next to him.

Release Date1991-10-04

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count9

Blackadder: A Cunning Story

A look back at the making of the entire Blackadder series to commemorate its 40th anniversary, featuring contributions from Blackadder's biggest fans including Jack Whitehall, Darren Harriott, Sarah Hadland, Ardal O'Hanlon and Nina Wadia.

Release Date2023-06-16

DepartmentCrew

JobThanks

CharacterSelf – Contributor

Vote Count6

Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule

Comedian Rik Mayall died suddenly on 9 June 2014. Mayall's blend of rocket-fuelled physical comedy, surrealism, subversive satire and pompous punk wit left a body of work that spanned four decades. Mayall's characters include the Black Country's investigative nerd Kevin Turvey, Felicity Kendal-adoring student and 'People's Poet' Rik in The Young Ones, ruthless MP Alan B'Stard in The New Statesman, seedy loser Richie in Bottom and larger-than-life characters Robin Hood and flying ace Lord Flashheart from Blackadder. Narrated by Simon Callow, this programme salutes Rik Mayall and celebrates his part in the UK's comedy history using rare and unseen archive footage. It also features contributions from people who knew or admired him, including Michael Palin, Simon Pegg, Lenny Henry, Ben Elton, Alexei Sayle, Christopher Ryan, Tim McInnerny, Jools Holland, Ruby Wax and Greg Davies.

Release Date2014-12-20

CharacterSelf

Vote Count13

The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball

After the criticisms of the 1987 show’s disproportionate focus on music - and the financial disaster of its music-only Festival Of Youth weekend concert in 1988, Amnesty returned to the original formula that had been so successful in the 1976-1981 era with a primary focus on comedy. Pat Duffy was dropped from organising any further benefit events for Amnesty and for the 1989 show, Amnesty hired producer Judith Holder.

Release Date1989-01-01

CharacterSelf

Vote Count2

Have You Been Paying Attention?

New Zealand's best and brightest comedians showcase their current affairs prowess unpacking the hot topics of the week: politics, sports, pop culture news and international affairs to test just who’s been paying attention…

Release Date2019-07-24

CharacterPanellist

Episode Count1

Vote Count2

French & Saunders

French and Saunders is a British sketch comedy television series written by and starring comic duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. It is also the name by which the performers are known on the occasions when they appear elsewhere as a double act.

Release Date1987-03-09

CharacterGuest

Episode Count1

Vote Count34

The One Ronnie

One of Britain's most enduring and best-loved comics, Ronnie Corbett, turned 80 in December 2010. In this brand new comedy sketch show, the octogenarian comic legend appears alongside some of the biggest names in British comedy, in sketches featuring everything from a superannuated super-hero to a stage-struck dog. Add in a sprinkling of one-liners and a brand new Ronnie monologue in the famous chair for the must-see comedy of the festive season.

Release Date2010-12-25

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count4

We Are Most Amused

We Are Most Amused was a gala event held at the New Wimbledon Theatre on 12 November 2008 in honour of the 60th birthday of Charles, Prince of Wales, in aid of The Prince's Trust. Prince Charles attended the event with his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and younger son Prince Harry. The show had a similar format to the Royal Variety Show and showcased a variety of comedy acts. The performance was televised by ITV to the public on 15 November 2008. Robin Williams made his first UK stage appearance in more than 25 years. Tickets were sold to the general public and the event sold out in one hour.

Release Date2008-11-15

CharacterSelf

Vote Count2

Blackadder: The Cavalier Years

A short movie, made for Comic Relief, in which Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) and Baldrick (Tony Robinson) must help protect King Charles I (Stephen Fry) from the machinations of Oliver Cromwell and his Roundheads

Release Date1988-02-05

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count77

The Story of Bean

Pending release of the movie "Bean," Rowan Atkinson reflects on his comedy career and reveals how his comic creation Mr Bean evolved. This 1997 documentary includes career clips as well as interviews with Atkinson, writers Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, British comedians Lenny Henry and Mel Smith and movie celebrities Jeff Goldblum and Burt Reynolds.

Release Date1997-07-31

Characterhimself

Vote Count11

Upstart Crow

Comedy about the life and times of William Shakespeare as he starts to make a name for himself in London, whilst also trying to balance life as a husband and father for his family in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Release Date2016-05-09

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Episode Count18

Vote Count47

The Thin Blue Line

The Thin Blue Line is a British sitcom starring Rowan Atkinson set in a police station that ran for two series on the BBC from 1995 to 1996. It was written by Ben Elton.

Release Date1995-11-13

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

CharacterHomeless Man

Episode Count14

Vote Count94

Harry Enfield and Chums

Harry Enfield, Kathy Burke, Paul Whitehouse and others take on an array of oddball characters and old-time favorites in this sketch comedy show.

Release Date1994-11-04

CharacterBenny Elton

Episode Count1

Vote Count26

Blackadder: Back & Forth

What was a cunning plan from Lord Edmund Blackadder V to fake a time machine on his gullibly incompetent friends, turns out to be the real thing and hurls him and his imbecile underling, Baldrick, through the course of human history.

Release Date1999-03-29

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count168

Blackadder: The Lost Pilot

Sir Tony Robinson takes a journey back in time to find out where Blackadder really began, and to uncover the story of the previously-unseen pilot episode.

Release Date2023-06-15

CharacterSelf

Vote Count6

How The Young Ones Changed Comedy

This documentary explores the legacy of one of the most notorious British sitcoms of all time. Launching alternative comedy onto our screens, the show made household names of its performers and writers and proved to be a huge influence, despite the BBC reportedly being baffled by what they'd commissioned back in 1982. Never before had a flagship comedy show contained so much violence, depravity and anarchy - it was a shot across the bow to mainstream comedians that things would never be the same again.

Release Date2018-05-26

Character(Archive Footage)

Vote Count2

Love Never Dies

Set ten years after the events at the Paris Opera House, the Phantom has fled to New York, where he lives amongst the joyrides and freak shows of Coney Island. He has finally found a place for his music to soar, all that is missing is his love Christine Daaé. In a bid to win back her love, the Phantom lures Christine, her husband Raoul, and their young son Gustave from Manhattan, to the glittering and glorious world of Coney Island... they have no idea what lies in store for them...

Release Date2012-02-08

DepartmentWriting

JobMusical

Vote Count53

Much Ado About Nothing

In this Shakespearean farce, Hero and her groom-to-be, Claudio, team up with Claudio's commanding officer, Don Pedro, the week before their wedding to hatch a matchmaking scheme. Their targets are sharp-witted duo Benedick and Beatrice -- a tough task indeed, considering their corresponding distaste for love and each other. Meanwhile, meddling Don John plots to ruin the wedding.

Release Date1993-05-07

CharacterVerges

Vote Count747

Saturday Live

Saturday Live was a British television comedy and music show broadcast by Channel 4 from 1985 to 1987, and in 1988 as Friday Night Live. Influenced by the American show Saturday Night Live, it was produced by Paul Jackson. The series made stars of Ben Elton, Harry Enfield, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, and featured appearances by Patrick Marber, Morwenna Banks, Chris Barrie, Emo Philips, Craig Ferguson, Craig Charles and many others. The show featured comic duo Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall in their act The Dangerous Brothers. All episodes were transmitted live, although some material was pre-recorded. Recordings of shows were edited into compilation repeats, retitled Saturday Almost Live. The show was succeeded by Friday Night Live, a shorter and slightly more tightly-formatted show with Elton as the permanent host, which ran for a single series in 1988. The show's titles consisted of reforming clay animations, highly comparable to early MTV idents.

Release Date1986-01-25

Episode Count30

Vote Count3

Happy Families

Happy Families was a rural comedy drama written by Ben Elton which appeared on the BBC in 1985 and told the story of the dysfunctional Fuddle family. It starred Jennifer Saunders as Granny Fuddle, Dawn French as the Cook and Adrian Edmondson as her imbecilic grandson Guy. The plot centred around Guy's attempts to find his four sisters - also played by Saunders, for a family reunion.

Release Date1985-10-17

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

CharacterRoland

Episode Count6

Vote Count5

Filthy Rich & Catflap

Richie causes trouble in his pursuit of TV fame with Eddie, his alcoholic minder, and Filthy, his sponging agent.

Release Date1987-01-07

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

CharacterArt Exhibition Guest

Episode Count6

Vote Count27

Enough Rope With Andrew Denton

Enough Rope with Andrew Denton is a television interview show originally broadcast on ABC1 in Australia. The title of the show came from the phrase "give someone enough rope and they'll hang themselves". The program was the brainchild of Australian comedian, social critic, producer and media personality Andrew Denton, who hosted the show. The hour-long chat show aired from 2003 to 2008.

Release Date2003-03-17

Episode Count1

Vote Count2

All Is True

London, June 29th, 1613. The Globe Theater, ran by the famous playwright William Shakespeare, accidentally burns to ashes. Seriously affected, he stops writing and returns to his hometown, where his wife Anne and daughters Judith and Susanna get surprised to hear he intends to stay there definitively, after two decades working in the capital, neglecting his sincere affections for them.

Release Date2018-12-21

DepartmentWriting

JobScreenplay

Vote Count132

The Comic Relief Utterly Utterly Rude Video Live

In April 1986, inspired by the previous summer's bombastic Live Aid event and the success of Amnesty's first four Secret Policeman's Ball shows, the UK's alternative comedy scene (and a few of the old guard) put on a fund-raising comedy revue at The Shaftesbury Theatre, London. The show's took place on 4-6 April, a recording was broadcast by the BBC on 25 April.

Release Date1986-04-25

Vote Count1

Madness the Pilot

The ska band is elected as the new British government and they move the cabinet to Camden.

Release Date1984-01-01

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count1

Blessed

Blessed is a BBC television sitcom written by Ben Elton and starring Ardal O'Hanlon as Gary, a record producer, who is struggling to bring up two small children. The series was broadcast on BBC One on Friday evenings at 9.00pm between October and December 2005. It featured the lullaby Morningtown Ride as its theme, sung by the cast band. No second series was commissioned.

Release Date2005-10-14

DepartmentDirecting

JobDirector

Episode Count8

Vote Count1

The Ben Elton Show

The Ben Elton Show is a British comedy series, which aired on BBC in 1998.

Release Date1998-04-16

Episode Count8

Vote Count2

Going Live!

Going Live! was a Saturday morning magazine show, broadcast on BBC1 between 1987 and 1993. It was presented by Phillip Schofield and Sarah Greene. Other presenters included Trevor and Simon, Peter Simon, Emma Forbes, and puppet Gordon the Gopher. The show was broadcast during the autumn to spring seasons, with other shows such as the 8:15 from Manchester and Parallel 9 taking over during the summer months. It was preceded by Saturday Superstore, and succeeded by Live & Kicking. In 1988, when the second series started, Greene was hurt in a helicopter crash with her then boyfriend, Mike Smith. Guest presenters stood in for her including T'Pau's Carol Decker. Similarly, in 1992-93 during the final series, Schofield was starring in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and was unable to present the show. A third presenter took his place. Originally, Neighbours actor Kristian Schmid took the role but soon left after problems with his work permit. Various other celebrities to stand in included Shane Richie and Robbie Williams during his Take That days.

Release Date1987-09-26

CharacterSelf

Episode Count1

Vote Count1

Alfresco

A sketch comedy show featuring some of Britain's great comedic talents of the 1980s and 1990s in one of their earliest TV appearances.

Release Date1983-05-01

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

CharacterVarious

Episode Count13

Vote Count6

Stark

The greenhouse effect has plunged the near-future world into recession and the Stark Corporation is making billions from the crisis; an eco protester ends caught up in a global conspiracy involving some Australian land, toxic waste, and a mysterious beauty called Rachel. Based on the novel Stark by Ben Elton.

Release Date1993-12-08

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

CharacterCD

Episode Count3

Vote Count4

Three Summers

Set over three summers at The Westival, a fictional West Australian rural folk festival redoubtable local radio personality ‘Queenie' describes as "Australia in a tent". Two young musicians fall in love against a wider collection of tales dealing with a microcosm of contemporary discussion points, including Indigenous, immigration and refugee issues.

Release Date2017-11-02

DepartmentDirecting

JobDirector

Vote Count14

Maybe Baby

Sam and Lucie Bell are a married couple who seem to have it all: good looks, successful careers, matching motorbikes, and an enthusiastic love life. The only thing they lack is the one thing they want more—a baby.

Release Date2000-06-02

DepartmentDirecting

JobDirector

Vote Count98

This Morning

This Morning features a variety of news, as well as show business, fashion, beauty, lifestyle, home and garden, food, tech, live phone-ins, and competitions.

Release Date1988-10-03

CharacterSelf

Episode Count1

Vote Count21

The Wright Way

The Wright Way was a British television sitcom written by Ben Elton which began airing on BBC One on 23 April 2013. It concerns a health and safety manager, his staff, and his family. Widely panned by critics, it was cancelled after only one series had aired.

Release Date2013-04-23

DepartmentCreator

JobCreator

Vote Count5

Question Time

This topical debate series based on Any Questions? typically features politicians from at least the three major political parties as well as other public figures who answer pre-selected questions put to them by a carefully selected audience.

Release Date1979-09-25

CharacterSelf - Panellist

Episode Count1

Vote Count12

The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball

When the British Amnesty shows finally resumed in 1987 after a six-year hiatus, the show format was retooled in an effort to take advantage of the growing number of rock musicians supporting Amnesty. Instead of the live show being primarily a comedy show with a few musical cameos, the event made a point of giving equal emphasis to the comedy and the music.

Release Date1987-01-01

CharacterSelf

Vote Count1

Angela and Friends

Daily chat show, hosted by Angela Griffin, that combines topical debate with five lifestyle clubs: Diet and Health, Beauty, Books and Travel, Entertainment and Fashion.

Release Date2009-11-09

Episode Count1

Vote Count1

V Graham Norton

V Graham Norton was an entertainment programme shown on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom starring Graham Norton, broadcast every weeknight as a successor to the weekly So Graham Norton. It aired from 6 May 2002 to 26 December 2003. It featured celebrities who chatted with Graham and became involved in studio games which were usually laden with sexual innuendo. The studio games were later featured on the clip show Nortonland in 2007 on digital channel Challenge. The show featured a 'webcam', a roving television camera which was randomly situated in a different place in the UK each week and which followed Graham's instructions and allowed him to interact with the public live. The feature was made technically possible using digital microwave link technology provided by Rear Window Television with the 'spontaneous' webcam feature always produced as a full quality Outside Broadcast, before being made to look like a traditional webcam at the studios.

Release Date2002-05-06

CharacterSelf

Episode Count1

Vote Count5

There's Nothing to Worry About!

Short-lived sketch show which is notable today for early appearances by Ben Elton, Dame Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, and Hugh Laurie. Originally broadcast only in the Granada television area, it was refashioned as Alfresco (1983) for national broadcasting.

Release Date1982-10-06

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

CharacterVarious

Episode Count3

Vote Count2

The Secret Policeman's Ball

A series of benefit shows staged initially in the United Kingdom to raise funds for the human rights organisation Amnesty International. The shows started in 1976 featuring popular British comedians but later included leading musicians and actors. The Secret Policeman's Ball shows are credited by many prominent entertainers with having galvanised them to become involved with Amnesty and other social and political causes in succeeding years.

Release Date1976-04-01

CharacterSelf

Episode Count15

Vote Count1

Girls On Top

Four girls share a flat together in London. Having nothing in common aside from their gender, they barely manage to co-exist.

Release Date1985-10-23

DepartmentWriting

JobScript Editor

Episode Count13

Vote Count6

The One Show

A topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One.

Release Date2006-08-14

CharacterSelf

Episode Count1

Vote Count26

Omnibus Presents Comic Relief

The comedy event of the year took place in April 1986 at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London. All those taking part gave their services free in order to support the famine relief camp in Umbala in the west of Sudan. Tonight Omnibus, in collaboration with Charity Projects, presents the best comic talents in Britain today. Among those appearing: Rowan Atkinson, Frank Bruno, Kate Bush, Graham Chapman, Billy Connolly, Ronnie Corbett, Paul Eddington, Ben Elton, French and Saunders, Stephen Fry, Bob Geldof, Terry Gilliam, Lenny Henry, Howard Jones, Terry Jones, Hugh Laurie, Hank Marvin, Rik Mayall, Michael Palin, Cliff Richard, Pamela Stephenson, Spitting Image, Midge Ure, The Young Ones.

Release Date1986-04-25

Episode Count1

Vote Count1

Q&A

Hosted by Hamish Macdonald, Q&A puts punters, pollies and pundits together in the studio to thrash out the hot issues of the week. It's about democracy in action - the audience gets to ask the questions.

Release Date2008-05-22

CharacterSelf - Panellist

Episode Count1

Vote Count3

Live from Studio Five

Live from Studio Five was an early-evening British magazine programme which was produced by Sky News for Channel 5. It was presented by Kate Walsh and a line-up of other co-presenters during its run. It consisted of interviews and discussing topical issues, with an emphasis on showbusiness news and celebrity gossip, after originally covering stories from a popular news agenda. It aired its final edition on 4 February 2011 and was replaced by OK! TV in February 2011 which lasted just nine months on air before itself being axed.

Release Date2009-09-14

CharacterSelf

Episode Count1

Vote Count12

The Heaven and Earth Show

The Heaven and Earth Show was a BBC television programme that aired on Sunday mornings from 10am to 11am on BBC One. The show ran for nine years between 1998 and 2007, looking at spiritual and moral issues. Over the years it had numerous presenters, and its final presenter was Gloria Hunniford.

Release Date1998-09-06

Episode Count1

Vote Count4

Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

The big names behind the big stories. Laura Kuenssberg talks to those making the news, inside and outside politics.

Release Date2022-09-04

Episode Count1

Vote Count5

Ben Elton: The Great Railway Disaster

The railways are in crisis, from mass cancellations to soaring prices. Comedian Ben Elton embarks on a northern rail misadventure. Is rail privatisation a failed experiment?

Release Date2023-06-26

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

CharacterSelf

The BRITs at 40

In 2020 the BRIT Awards celebrated a massive 40th ever show. In this documentary Jack Whitehall delves into the archives to narrate an entertaining look back at over four decades of highlights from Britain’s biggest music show.

Release Date2020-02-11

CharacterSelf

The London Studios: Home of the Stars

The end of an era as the studios where ITV filmed its many shows for 45 years closes its doors for the last time.

Release Date2018-12-28

CharacterSelf

Ben Elton: The Get A Grip Tour Live

Ben Elton, the multi award winning writer, performer and comic is back on stage after ten years with his new un-cut live show and time has definitely done nothing to tame him! After an 80 night tour of venues in both the UK and Australia Ben Elton Live! The Get A Grip Tour demonstrates that he really is still THE king of stand up comedy! Recorded in front of a packed house at Leeds City Variety Hall, this proves that after 25 years this stand up legend is still at the very top of his game!

Release Date2007-11-12

CharacterHimself

Is Benny Hill Still Funny?

A documentary looking at the life of Benny Hill and with the use of an audience reaction test finding out if he is still funny to contemporary audiences.

Release Date2006-12-28

CharacterSelf

When Comedy Changed Forever

The history of British comedy from the 1970s to today, showing how the work of Reeves and Mortimer provided a link between old-style acts such as Bernard Manning and modern phenomena like Little Britain.

Release Date2006-03-07

CharacterSelf (archive material)

All Saints: The Video

All Saints tread the path of jazzy, funky videos, spliced with interviews with the girls themselves and live footage of their travels around the world.

Release Date1998-10-23

CharacterHimself (archive footage) (uncredited)

Ben Elton: Live

Although an incredibly successful writer, it is as a stand-up comedian that Ben Elton is most famous. In 1997 over 300,000 ecstatic fans around the country saw Ben Elton live during his sell-out tour which the media hailed as his funniest and most accessible material to date. Filmed during this epic tour this DVD is your opportunity to witness for yourself Ben Elton's brilliant storytelling talents. Don't miss it.

Release Date1997-10-27

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

CharacterHimself

Filth!

In the late Eighties, there had been a series of comedy concerts (modelled on the Amnesty International “Secret Policeman’s Ball series”) to raise both awareness and raw cash for HIV/AIDS charities. The series was called Hysteria to reflect the hysteria (and downright untruths) surrounding the issue of HIV/AIDS. The last one of these had been in 1989, so in 1994, Pozzitive set out to revive the idea of a fundraiser with “Filth!” a night of comedy and music at the Sadlers Wells theatre, on Sunday 24 April. In fact, so many comedians and writers said “yes” to the idea, that we hit on the notion of doing two shows in one evening back to back. The first show was hosted by Lynn Ferguson and Arthur Smith, the second show by Mark Lamarr. Artists involved in the show included Tom Robinson, Steve Coogan, Spitting Image, Eddie Izzard, Jo Brand, Jeremy Hardy and Ben Elton.

Release Date1994-04-24

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

CharacterHimself

Ben Elton: Very Live

Not just a tour but a Tour de Force, for this was the tour that grew. Originally planned to play just 40 dates, such was it's phenomenal success that it expanded to a staggering 112 performances and was seen by well over 200,000 people around the country. Now everyone has the chance to see this completely new and hilarious show for this is Ben Elton captured live and at his very best, just like being there in fact, maybe even better because this way you don't have to park your car or queue for the bogs at the interval!

Release Date1993-11-29

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

CharacterHimself

Rowan Atkinson Live: Invisible Drum Kit

In this hilarious clip Rowan bumps into something seemingly innocuous while sweeping the stage. This world famous clip sees him play an invisible drum kit.

Release Date1992-04-11

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Filthy Rich & Catflap

A satire about three losers: a failed actor, his sleazy agent, and a permanently drunk bodyguard.

Release Date1987-01-07

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Laughs and Larrikins

Midday with Ray Martin from 1985 - 1993.

The Chris McCausland Show

Start your Saturday with a laugh in the company of brilliant comedian Chris McCausland! Join Chris on his very brand-new chat show with a brilliant line-up of celebrity guests.

Release Date2024-06-29

CharacterSelf

Episode Count1

Get a Grip

Get a Grip was a television series shown on ITV in the United Kingdom. It aired on Wednesday nights in April/May 2007 and was hosted by Ben Elton and Alexa Chung. The programme was made by Phil McIntyre Productions and Big Bear Films. ITV dropped Get a Grip from its 10pm slot as it was not performing well in terms of ratings. The programme was moved to Monday nights after midnight for the rest of the series. The show received an averaged audience of around 1.5 million, usually being beaten by rival channels BBC One and Channel 4.

Release Date2007-04-04

Episode Count6

Parkinson

Michael Parkinson returns for a second run of his iconic talk show.

Release Date1998-01-09

CharacterSelf

Episode Count4

Clive Anderson All Talk

Release Date1996-10-06

CharacterSelf

Episode Count1

Ben Elton: The Man from Auntie

Comedy series written and performed by Ben Elton, primarily based around his stand-up comedy routines, with sketches and parodies.

Release Date1990-02-15

DepartmentCreator

JobCreator

Character

Episode Count[ 12 ]

Vote Count1

Saturday Night Clive

Release Date1989-01-21

Episode Count1

O.T.T.

O.T.T. was a late-night adult version of the anarchic ATV children's show Tiswas, but made by its ITV franchise successor Central Independent Television. It was broadcast at 11.00pm on Saturday nights for one series in 1982. It was created and presented by Chris Tarrant, and also starred ex-Tiswasians John Gorman, Lenny Henry and Bob Carolgees. Helen Atkinson-Wood was the female sidekick replacement for Sally James, who stayed behind to present the concurrent and final series of Tiswas alone.

Release Date1982-01-02

Episode Count1