S1 EP9: Ben Elton on ‘cancel culture’, his early stand up career, and writing for Blackadder and The Young Ones

The Louis Theroux Podcast

Spotify Studios

Comedy, Society & Culture, Arts

4.3 • 696 Ratings

🗓️ 31 July 2023

⏱️ 79 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Louis meets writer and comedian Ben Elton. They discuss his long and varied comedy career, including standup at the iconic Comedy Store in Soho, as well as writing for Blackadder and The Young Ones. Ben also reveals his thoughts on so-called ‘cancel culture’ and the accusation of being ‘worse than Osama Bin Laden’. Warning: Contains strong language and sensitive themes. Links: The Young Ones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLwc9lbJlIQ Blackadder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW2sBwrRbfo The Thin Blue Line https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pSkJ5K74e4 Upstart Crow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH_KU_MI0OM We Will Rock You Musical https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WsZ1iD5cpM Stark by Ben Elton https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stark-Satirical-Thriller-Ben-Elton/dp/0552773557 Saturday Night Live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptx_H2XWGV8 Four Weddings and a Funeral https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-HeV8Z6iXc Jim Davidson’s YouTube channel ‘Jim Davidson's Ustreme’ https://www.youtube.com/@jimdavidsonustreme/videos Gridlock by Ben Elton https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gridlock-Ben-Elton/dp/0552773565 Friday Night Live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBTKzxOJkQo&t=197s Credits: Producer: Paul Kobrak Assistant Producer: Maan Al-Yasiri Production Manager: Francesca Bassett Music: Miguel D’Oliveira Show notes compiled by Shaloma Ellis Executive Producer: Arron Fellows A Mindhouse Production exclusively for Spotify www.mindhouse.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Oh my God, here we are.
0:17.7	Hello and welcome to the Louis Theru podcast.
0:21.6	Louis Theru podcast. Louis Theroux here.
0:23.6	Standing in for Louis Theroux.
0:28.6	This week we have a guest that I've wanted to book for some time and the stars finally aligned.
0:34.6	His name is Ben Elton, comedian, writer, Eminos Gris of British television,
0:41.6	and in particular the alternative comedy wave of the early 80s. Stand-up comedian, did I say that?
0:47.3	He's also celebrated for his writing on the TV shows, The Young Ones, Blackadder, the Thin Blue Line, and much more recently, Upstart Crow.
0:58.8	He's also collaborated with Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer and musicals guy.
1:04.5	Okay, impresario, is that the right term?
1:07.4	And Queen with the jukebox musical We Will Rock You.
1:12.3	His uncle, I mentioned this because I know that was a name to conjure with if you studied history.
1:17.4	His uncle was the distinguished historian, Jeffrey Alton.
1:21.5	The name comes up in conversation.
1:23.9	Ben lives most of the time in Australia, in Western Australia, in Frio.
1:29.9	We had an email exchange.
1:31.2	He's like, I'm going to be in Friyo.
1:32.5	I'm like, oh, where is Friyo?
1:34.6	And he goes, oh, sorry, that's Fremantle.
1:37.0	It's what we call it in Australia.
1:39.5	Australians like to put O's on the end of words.
1:42.9	Oh, yeah, mate, I loved you, Docco.
	...

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