Ben Elton
- 65 years old
- English
- Writer and stand-up comedian
Press clippings Page 5
Top comedy gigs 2021
Bruce Dessau's favourite gigs of the year, including Simon Amstell, Bridget Christie and Mo Gilligan.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 30th December 2021Maureen Lipman thinks cancel culture is killing comedy. Don't make me laugh.
The veteran performer's concerns aren't shared by everyone in the comedy world, writes Bruce Dessau.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 22nd December 2021Ben Elton at the Harold Pinter Theatre review
Forty years after his debut as a stand-up, the comedian's still got it.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 21st December 2021Ben Elton: 'I recognise Mrs Thatcher was a woman of principle'
As he returns to stand-up, the comedian and writer explains that he isn't as Left-wing as many hoped, and how he has been trolled for years.
Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph, 10th December 2021West End run for Ben Elton
This long awaited London season is the climax of a massive sold out UK and international tour and also marks Ben's 40th year in showbusiness. Where better to celebrate a lifetime of laughter than in his home town and within heckling distance of where it all began at the legendary Comic Strip in February 1981. Ben will play a two week residency at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 20 - 30 December.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 28th October 2021Cancel culture killing comedy? What a joke
Chris Rock, Jennifer Saunders and more have argued that 'wokeness' is stifling comedy. But the idea of the joke police is actually nonsense.
Rachel Aroesti, The Guardian, 10th August 2021Interview: Ben Elton returns to the stage, a year late
With a demeanour somewhere between "good sport" and "so over this", Ben Elton is doing whatever the photographer asks in the service of an image to accompany this story. Serious face. Goofy face. Jazz hands. Watering can.
Karl Quinn, The Age, 17th March 2021Upstart Crow review
Review of the Christmas special set during a plague lockdown.
Carol Midgley, The Times, 22nd December 2020Upstart Crow: Lockdown Christmas 1603, BBC Two review
A certain flatness goes with the territory here.
David Nice, The Arts Desk, 22nd December 2020Upstart Crow, Lockdown Christmas 1603, BBC2, review
The two-hander lacked the usual rollicking ensemble and was based on a single joke.
Barbara Speed, i Newspaper, 21st December 2020