Ben Elton

Ben Elton (born May 3, 1959) is an English comedian, author, playwright, screenwriter, and director. Born in Catford, London, Elton studied English at the University of Cambridge, where he was a member of the Cambridge Footlights alongside Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, and Emma Thompson. After graduating, Elton became a successful stand-up comedian, appearing on the TV series "Friday Night Live" and "The Young Ones." He also wrote for "Blackadder II" and "The Thin Blue Line." Elton has authored several best-selling novels, including "Stark" (1989), "Gridlock" (1991), and "Past Mortem" (1996). His plays include "Popcorn" (1996) and "Blast from the Past" (1998). He has also written and directed several films, including "Maybe Baby" (2000) and "Three and Out" (2008). Elton has won numerous awards for his work, including the Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Screenplay (2000) for "Maybe Baby" and the BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy Series (2002) for "The Thin Blue Line."