Ben Elton

Following the huge success of Ben Elton’s critically acclaimed sold-out New Zealand tour in 2021, which marked his return to live comedy after a fifteen year hiatus, the undisputed godfather of modern stand-up is going back on the road with his new show – Authentic Stupidity.

Ben Elton exploded onto the comedy scene more than 30 years ago, hosting Channel 4’s groundbreaking Saturday Live. Since then Elton has achieved huge success as a stand-up comic, author, playwright, actor and director. He's written television shows such as The Young Ones, Blackadder 2, Blackadder The Third, Blackadder Goes Forth, The Thin Blue Line, the famous ‘exam’ episode of Mr Bean and many more, as well writing and directing two feature films: 2000’s Maybe Baby and 2017’s Australian-made Three Summers. In 2018, he wrote Kenneth Branagh’s critically acclaimed biopic of William Shakespeare All Is True which starred Judi Dench and Ian McKellen. Earlier this month, the live theatre production of his hit BBC TV series Upstart Crow opened at The Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End.

A highly respected author, Elton has published 16 best-selling novels, six of which became number one bestsellers. Elton is also widely known for his writing for the stage which includes three smash hit West End plays and the global phenomenon We Will Rock You based on the music of British rock legends Queen.  A serial award winner, he has won three BAFTAs, two Laurence Olivier Awards, The Royal Television Society Writer’s Award, The Golden Dagger UK Crime Writer of the Year Award, The Critics Circle Award for Best Musical and the Eurovision Golden Rose D’Or Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ben says ’Since my last live tour a whole new existential threat has emerged to threaten humanity! Apparently Artificial Intelligence is going to destroy us all! Well I reckon our real problem isn’t Artificial Intelligence it’s good old fashioned Authentic Stupidity! Forget AI! It’s AS we need to be worrying about!'
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