Ben Elton

Ben Elton faces axe from Oz TV after horrid debut

Comic Ben Elton is said to be facing the axe Down Under - as Aussies did not find his new TV programme funny.

Ben Elton's new comedy falls flat

Ben Elton's new comedy show premiered to lacklustre ratings last night with an average of just 455,000 viewers.

Ben Elton set to unearth live TV delights

Ben Elton has his sights set on eventually creating an Aussie sitcom.

Ben Elton performed his first live stand up in a decade in these Dave specials first shown in October. The so-called "Godfather Of Alternative" has become comedy's embarrassing Dad in recent years, what with We Will Rock You and all, but his routines on rebranding and body piercing in particular show that he's still driven by the same moral sense and sarcastic despair at modern life as ever. Jason Byrne and Canadian Tom Stade guest.

What could be more festive than an old-fashioned light entertainment special? Apart from Santa eating sprouts, not much. This one-off all-star sketch show marks Ronnie Corbett's 80th birthday earlier this month and sees him joined by a host of younger comics including David Walliams, Matt Lucas, Catherine Tate, Harry Enfield and Miranda Hart, who has said that she studied the effect of Corbett's little looks and head turns to the audience. There's even a reprise of Corbett's signature rambling armchair anecdotes, written by Ben Elton, plus music from Charlotte Church.

How Ben Elton almost killed Outnumbered

Outnumbered has become one of the BBC's biggest sitcom hits, but its creator has revealed that it almost didn't get made - thanks to Ben Elton.

Ben Elton signs deal with Channel 9

He's been flying under the radar in Fremantle, but Confidential can reveal comic maestro Ben Elton has signed a lucrative deal with Channel 9 to host a new program and will now make WA his official home.

Dave's One Night Stand review

Ben Elton is the first host of a new Dave show and reminds everyone that moving on from stand-up was the best thing he did.

Ben Elton's standup comeback

Was Ben Elton's return to the stage on Dave's One Night Stand a case of great comic timing or just another bad joke?

Ben Elton kicks off a series in which comedians perform a gig in their home town - Catford, south London, in Elton's case. It's a Live at the Apollo set-up prefaced by a cursory visit to Elton's childhood house (a standard Edwardian semi) and primary school. Also on the bill are two non-Catfordians: Irishman Jason Byrne and Canadian Tom Stade, who attributes his drawl to a misspent youth. Byrne re-enacts his juvenile misadventures, while the more risqué Stade proposes Afghanistan as a dream holiday destination. Performing stand-up for the first time in five years, the star attraction isn't quite as sure-footed. Rebranding experts, creationists and the Tories are all on his hit list, but Elton is best on ageing gracelessly, which seems rather apt.