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).

Filmography

• 2023Ben Elton: The Great Railway Disaster — Self, Writer
• 2023Blackadder: A Cunning Story — Self - Contributor, Thanks
• 2022Ben Elton: Live — Self, Writer
• Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
• Have You Been Paying Attention? — Panellist
• 2018All Is True — Screenplay
• 2018How The Young Ones Changed Comedy — (Archive Footage)
• 2017Three Summers — Director, Writer
• Upstart Crow — Writer, Creator
• The Wright Way — Creator
• 2012Love Never Dies — Musical, Writer
• 2010The One Ronnie — Writer
• Angela and Friends
• 2008Blackadder Exclusive: The Whole Rotten Saga — Self, Writer
• Get a Grip
• Blessed — Director
• 2004Bottom Mindless Violence — Baz (archive footage)
• Enough Rope With Andrew Denton
• 2000Maybe Baby — Director, Screenplay, Novel
• 1999Blackadder: Back & Forth — Writer
• The Ben Elton Show
• The Heaven and Earth Show
• 1997Ben Elton: Live — Himself, Writer
• TFI Friday
• The Thin Blue Line — Homeless Man, Writer, Producer, Creator
• 1994Filth! — Himself, Writer
• Harry Enfield and Chums — Benny Elton
• 1993Ben Elton: Very Live — Self, Writer
• 1993Much Ado About Nothing — Verges
• Stark — CD, Writer, Author, Creator
• 1992Rowan Atkinson Live — Writer
• 1992Rowan Atkinson Live: Invisible Drum Kit — Writer
• 1991Mr. Bean Takes an Exam — Writer
• Ben Elton: The Man from Auntie — Creator
• Mr. Bean — Writer
• The Last Laugh — Self, Writer
• 1989Oh No, Not Them — Creator
• Saturday Night Clive
• 1988Blackadder's Christmas Carol — Writer
• 1988Blackadder: The Cavalier Years — Writer
• Filthy Rich & Catflap — Art Exhibition Guest, Writer, Creator
• French & Saunders — Guest
• Omnibus Presents Comic Relief
• Saturday Live — Host
• Girls On Top — Script Editor
• Happy Families — Roland, Writer
• 1984Madness the Pilot — Writer
• Alfresco — Various, Writer
• Blackadder — Anarchist, Writer, Creator
• O.T.T.
• The Young Ones — Baz, Radio DJ, Grange Hill Student, Man in Hawk Advert, Writer, Creator
• There's Nothing to Worry About! — Various, Writer, Creator
• The South Bank Show
• Laughs and Larrikins

Appearances as themselves (32)

• 2026Rik Mayall: Magnificent B'Stard — Self
• 2026Untold UK: Vinnie Jones — Self - (archive footage)
• 2025Not Only Fred Dagg But Also John Clarke — Self
• The Chris McCausland Show — Self
• 2023Blackadder: The Lost Pilot — Self
• 2020The BRITs at 40 — Self
• 2018The London Studios: Home of the Stars — Self
• 2014Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule — Self
• 2012The Many Faces of Ronnie Barker — Self
• Live from Studio Five — Self
• 2008Blackadder Rides Again — Self
• 2008Blackadder's Most Cunning Moments — Self
• Q&A — Self - Panellist
• 2008We Are Most Amused — Self
• 2007Ben Elton: The Get A Grip Tour Live — Himself
• 2006Is Benny Hill Still Funny? — Self
• The One Show — Self
• 2006When Comedy Changed Forever — Self (archive material)
• Parkinson — Self - Guest
• 2002There's Only One Paul McCartney — Self
• V Graham Norton — Self
• 1998All Saints: The Video — Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Parkinson — Self
• 1997The Story of Bean — Self
• Clive Anderson All Talk — Self
• 1989The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball — Self
• This Morning — Self
• Going Live! — Self
• 1987The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball — Self
• 1986The Comic Relief Utterly Utterly Rude Video Live — Self
• Question Time — Self - Panellist
• The Secret Policeman's Ball — Self