Editing Ben Elton (section)

===Television===
Upon university graduation in 1980, Elton joined the BBC and became their youngest ever scriptwriter.<ref name=":1" />

His first television appearance came in 1981 as a stand-up performer on the BBC1 youth and music programme ''[[Oxford Road Show]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BFI Screenonline: Elton, Ben (1958-) Biography|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/476796/index.html|access-date=2020-11-14|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> His first TV success, at 23, came as co-writer of the television sitcom ''[[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]]'', in which he occasionally appeared.

In 1983/84 he wrote and appeared in [[Granada Television]]'s sketch show ''[[Alfresco (TV series)|Alfresco]]'', which was also notable for early appearances by [[Stephen Fry]], [[Hugh Laurie]], [[Emma Thompson]] and [[Robbie Coltrane]]. In 1985, Elton produced his first solo script for the BBC with his comedy-drama series ''[[Happy Families (1985 TV series)|Happy Families]]'', starring [[Jennifer Saunders]] and [[Adrian Edmondson]]. Elton appeared in the fifth episode as a liberal prison governor. Shortly afterwards, he reunited [[Rik Mayall]] and Edmondson with their ''Young Ones'' co-star [[Nigel Planer]] for the showbiz send-up sitcom ''[[Filthy, Rich & Catflap]]''.

In 1985 Elton began his writing partnership with [[Richard Curtis]]. Together they wrote  ''[[Blackadder II]]'', ''[[Blackadder the Third]]'', ''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]'', and a failed sitcom pilot for [[Madness (band)|Madness]]. ''[[Blackadder]]'', starring [[Rowan Atkinson]], was a worldwide hit, winning four [[BAFTA]]s and an [[Emmy]].



Elton and Curtis were inspired to write ''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]'' upon finding [[World War I]] to be apt for a situation comedy. This series, which dealt with greater, darker themes than prior ''Blackadder'' episodes, was praised for Curtis's and Elton's scripts, in particular [[Goodbyeee|the final episode]]. Before writing the series, the pair read about the war and found that: {{blockquote|All the lead up to the first World War was very funny. All the people coming from communities where they'd never bumped into posh people and all being so gung ho and optimistic. The first hundred pages of any book about the world war are hilarious, then of course everybody dies.<ref>{{cite news | title = I Have a Cunning Plan: 20 Years of Blackadder | url = http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/75e26fa6213945c992d2e177c8a4aa32 | publisher = [[BBC Radio 4]] | date = 3 June 2003 | access-date = 23 April 2015 }}</ref>}}

Elton and Curtis also wrote Atkinson's 1986 stage show ''The New Revue'', and [[Mr. Bean]]'s "exam" episode.

Elton became a stand-up comedian primarily to showcase his own writing, but became one of Britain's biggest live comedy acts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ourbrisbane.com/whatson/events/html/events/1/81818.html |title=Brisbane – Ben Elton – Queensland Performing Arts Centre |website=Ourbrisbane.com |access-date=1 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930210004/http://www.ourbrisbane.com/whatson/events/html/events/1/81818.html |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}</ref> After a regular slot on ''[[Saturday Live (British TV programme)|Saturday Live]]'' – later moved and renamed ''Friday Night Live '' – which was seen as a UK version of the US's ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', he became the host of the programme.

In 1990 he starred in his own stand-up comedy and sketch series, ''[[Ben Elton: The Man from Auntie]]'', which had a second series in 1994. (The title plays on ''[[The Man from UNCLE]]'': "Auntie" is a nickname for the BBC.) In 1989 Elton won the Royal Television Society Writers' Award.

''[[The Ben Elton Show]]'' (1998) followed a format similar to ''The Man from Auntie'' and featured [[Ronnie Corbett]], a comedian of the old guard that the "[[alternative comedy|alternative comedians]]" of the 1980s were the direct alternative to, as a regular guest. It was Elton's last high-profile network programme in the UK as a stand-up comedian.

Elton wrote the six-part sitcom ''[[Blessed (TV series)|Blessed]]'', starring [[Ardal O'Hanlon]] as a record producer, first broadcast on BBC1 in 2005. No further series was commissioned.

In April 2007, ''[[Get A Grip (TV series)|Get a Grip]]'', a new show, began on [[ITV1]]. Featuring comic sketches similar to those on ''The Ben Elton Show'' and staged studio discussion between Elton and 23-year-old [[Alexa Chung]], the show's aim was to "contrast Elton's middle-aged viewpoint with Chung's younger perspective" (although Elton was responsible for the scripts).

In ''[[Third Way Magazine]]'', Elton accused the BBC of allowing jokes about [[vicar]]s but not [[imam]]s. "And I believe that part of it is due to the genuine fear that the authorities and the communities have about provoking the radical elements of [[Islam]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thirdwaymagazine.co.uk/editions/april-2008/high-profile/positive-spin.aspx|title=Positive spin|author=Cary, James|work=Third Way|access-date=21 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006070814/http://www.thirdwaymagazine.co.uk/editions/april-2008/high-profile/positive-spin.aspx|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 10 October 2010, Elton headlined the first episode of ''[[Dave's One Night Stand]]''.

Elton worked on ''[[Ben Elton Live From Planet Earth]]'', a [[Live television|live]] one-hour comedy show which debuted on 8 February 2011 on the [[Nine Network]] in Australia.<ref>Quinn, Karl: [http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/turning-back-the-clock-for-oldstyle-tv-variety-20110207-1ak3e.html Turning back the clock for old-style TV variety], ''The Age'', 8 February 2011.</ref> Live from Planet Earth was axed by the Nine Network on Wednesday 23 February 2011 after three episodes, despite having six commissioned.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/eltons-live-comedy-show-dies-after-three-episodes-20110223-1b5k4.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Elton's live comedy show dies after three episodes | date=24 February 2011}}</ref> The show's final airing rated 200,000 viewers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/23/3147002.htm |title=Nine axes Elton's comedy show – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |newspaper=ABC News |date=23 February 2011 |access-date=11 August 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110628233016/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/23/3147002.htm| archive-date= 28 June 2011 | url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2016 Elton wrote the sitcom ''[[Upstart Crow]]'', parodying the writing and family life of [[William Shakespeare]], and starring [[David Mitchell (comedian)|David Mitchell]] as Shakespeare. This programme ran for a second series in 2017, and a third series in 2018. A Christmas Special was aired on 21 December 2020.<ref>[[List of Upstart Crow episodes]]</ref>

In June 2023, Elton presented ''Ben Elton: The Great Railway Disaster'', a [[Channel 4]] documentary about [[rail privatisation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-zjb11t/ben-elton-the-great-railway-disaster-season-1/?episode=b-b4ixp1|title=Ben Elton: The Great Railway Disaster|website=radiotimes.com|access-date=28 June 2023}}</ref>

====As writer and producer====
Elton wrote and produced ''[[The Thin Blue Line (British TV series)|The Thin Blue Line]]'', a studio-based sitcom set in a police station, also starring Rowan Atkinson, which ran for two series in 1995 and 1996. A prime-time family show, its traditional format and characters won it the 1995 British Comedy Award and both the public and professional Jury Awards at Reims.

In 2012 a new sitcom for BBC1 was commissioned, written and produced by Elton starring [[David Haig]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/08/new-sitcom-from-ben-elton.html |title=New sitcom from Ben Elton |website=TV Tonight |date=3 August 2012 |access-date=2 February 2013}}</ref> Filming for a full six-part series of the sitcom ''[[The Wright Way]]'' (formerly known as ''Slings and Arrows'') was completed in late February 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kacey Ainsworth, Rufus Jones & Michael Falzon Cast in BBC One's Ben Elton Sitcom|url=http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2013/01/kacey-ainsworth-rufus-jones-michael-falzon-cast-in-bbc-ones-ben-elton-sitcom/|access-date=28 January 2013|author=Patrick Munn|date=5 January 2013}}</ref> It debuted in April 2013 to negative reviews.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Cole|first=Tom|title=Ben Elton's The Wright Way rubs critics up the wrong way|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-04-24/ben-eltons-the-wright-way-rubs-critics-up-the-wrong-way|magazine=Radio Times|access-date=27 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Sherwin|first=Adam|title=Ben Elton mauled by critics after getting BBC sitcom The Wright Way badly wrong|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/ben-elton-mauled-by-critics-after-getting-bbc-sitcom-the-wright-way-badly-wrong-8586544.html|access-date=27 April 2013|newspaper=The Independent|date=24 April 2013}}</ref>

'''''Friday Night Live'''''

Elton returned to live British television on Channel 4 on 21 October 2022 as "Ringmaster"/host of a revival of ''Friday Night Live'', celebrating the 40th anniversary of the founding of Channel 4 and as part of their ''Truth and Dare'' season.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Harry Enfield, Jo Brand, Julian Clary and more join Ben Elton for Friday Night Live {{!}} Channel 4 |url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/harry-enfield-jo-brand-julian-clary-and-more-join-ben-elton-friday-night-live |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=www.channel4.com}}</ref> Speaking to [[Adrian Chiles]] on [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] on broadcast day, Elton readily admitted that because of the fluid UK political situation, "I honestly haven't written the first five minutes yet!"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-21 |title=TV tonight: for one night only, Ben Elton hosts Friday Night Live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/oct/21/tv-tonight-for-one-night-only-ben-elton-hosts-friday-night-live |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Friday Night Live announces star-studded line-up for Channel 4 return |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/friday-night-live-channel-4-return-line-up-newsupdate/ |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Radio Times |language=en}}</ref>