In conversation with Ben Elton

Posted on Fri 03 Oct

Novelist, playwright, screenwriter, lyricist & comedian Ben Elton is ‘in conversation’ with Stuart Maconie at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire this month (14 October), discussing his new autobiography, What Have I Done? - just five days after the book's publication.

What's On recently caught up with Ben to talk about his autobiography, legacy and more...

Having been a writer across different media in your career, did anything surprise you about the process of penning an autobiography?
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the process. I think that not having the pressure to make it all up made the process so much more fun. This was my first ever effort at non fiction so the only real pressure was to be honest which I certainly have been.

What Have I Done? promises uncensored stories - is there anything you were nervous to include? Was anything off-limits?
Hey, everybody gotta have their secrets. But I’ve definitely told the truth and plenty of it!

Are there any stories in the autobiography that you’re particularly glad to have put down on paper, or that you look forward to people reading?
For sure! So much has been said and written about The Young Ones and Blackadder over the years and an awful lot of it has been bullshit. So I admit I had a lot of fun setting a few records straight.

You’ve written huge comedy hits over the years, but were there any projects or ideas that you wish you could have developed further?
Well I talk a bit about projects that never got further than my desk and I’d like to see them all get multi million dollar production budgets. But of the shows that actually got made I really wanted one last series of Upstart Crow to get through the later plays and into Shakespeare’s retirement but the BBC didn’t agree!

Looking back on your career, which one of your creations would you choose to represent your legacy?
I never think about legacy, when I’m gone, I’m gone. But I have one show that really brings people together to celebrate and feel good about themselves which we seem to need more than ever so I’m gonna say I hope people are still wigging out to We Will Rock You for a long time to come.

Do you try to keep up-to-date with other comedy writers’ work?
I try not to worry about keeping up to date with anything because there’s so much stuff being made that it just leads to endless FOMO. I never saw a West Wing or Twin Peaks and I’ve made my peace with that.

What in the current comedy landscape interests or excites you?
To me seeking out comedy is a bit of a busman’s holiday so I don’t particularly look out for it but I was very excited about Spinal Tap 2. While it’s not as funny as the original (few things are) it had a lovely gentle, aged quality and I really enjoyed it.

Your Authentic Stupidity tour has ended, but do you continue to gather stand-up material for future shows?
I occasionally jot down an idea but not often. I write when I’m at my desk. When I’m not I try to forget I’m a writer. Otherwise you just end up an observer on your own life. I learned that lesson many years ago.

And what’s next - relaxing after the book launch, or on to the next project?
Christmas!!!! I can not wait. I love it so much. We’ll be in Australia this year but I will still do the full traditional Turkey roast dinner even if it is 42 degrees and everybody else is down the beach with their cold sea food collations.