Already a successful comedian, Ben Elton turned to writing situation comedies during the 1980s and penned BBC classics such as "The Young Ones", "Blackadder", and during the 1990s "The Thin Blue Line".

He provided lyrics for Andrew Lloyd Webber 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.

I found a fan's internet site on me in which he got almost everything wrong, including I'd changed my name. I was born Benjamin Elton. My father's family were German Jews who adopted British nationality after the War and my uncle, who served in the British Army, changed his name, under Army instructions, from the Jewish Eronberg to Elton because he wanted the same initials. My father said, "Bugger it, I want to be an Elton too", and changed from Ludwig Eronberg to Lewis Elton. That's the story, not something you pick up on a fan site that comes with so-called "fame".

"I can do without the Labour Party trying to strut its funky stuff. I didn't vote Labour because they've heard of Oasis."

(On the fashion industry) "Women who don't look like women modelling clothes that don't look like clothes."

"The problem really with politics is apathy I think, particularly the Labour Party. I mean I'm a member and I can't even be arsed to leave!" (Speaking in 2005)

I once was lucky enough to meet a young lady by the name of Helen Stone who said to me "you are a bloke who don't look like a bloke. saying words which don't sound like they're funny..." that made me laugh a lot.