Ben Elton interview - Parkinson - BBC

[G666leSh666le]

SUCK SATANS COCK BEN ELTON

[Apfeliner]

when was this interview taken ? Before he wrote dead famous?

[waybexxx]

Spent the 80s complaining about capitalism and slagging off Queen for playing Sun City... and then works with them and makes a fortune. That's genius!

[lpbh25]

This is funny.. The old toothbrush is now a CLASSIC! LOL.

[LizaLips1]

Am I missing something? I probably am.... but why is he talking about Big Brother? I don't watch a Ben Elton interview to hear about Big Brother.

[WilliamAndrews1969]

@LizaLips1 He wrote a novel called Dead Famous which was about a murder in the Big Brother house. This interview would have been recorded at the time of that book's release.

[keithyt]

I'm a big fan. I love all his books. I can't wait for the next one :-)

[muddwell]

Youtube proves that not everyone should have an opinion.

[SlankTV]

Nozin' Aroun' Nozin' Aroun'

[1991starman]

Why is everyone saying ben elton sucks for.christsake the guy is a comic genius and yet you guys think he sucks.get a life and stop pretending that people on this website really give a shit what a you guys have to say about a guy that makes more money then of you and yet you don't even bother to look at the great creations he has made along with richard curtis.overall this apage for the fans not the dislikers.

[lucke001]

@1991starman they hate him because of what he did to benny hill i guess, as for me i only like elton's early work, like blackadder, but nowadays...

[mollysangelique]

zo,wat,een,verschil,uiterlyk,i­k,stop,typing,een,off,day,moe,­ik,wil,niet,moe,in,myn,hoofd,z­ynstop,typing,ik,analyzeer,je,­karakter,goed,jy,van,houd,17uu­r,geleden,wy,samen,webside,you­tube,dit,is,op,youtube,geplaat­st,jy,kan,hoe,ook,razendsnel,a­lles,ophalen,jy,hebt,fotografi­sch,geheugen,hyper,erby,when,k­om,jy,tot,rust,slaap,jy,8uur,n­ee,hoe,rem,jy,af,dat,gaat,niet­,vanzelf,alcohol,helpt,wiet,of­,smoke,je,gemiddeld,hele,dag,g­ebrek,aan,medicynen,is,vreemd,­peet,sam,is,hyper,medicynen,zy­n,uitgewerkt

[mollysangelique]

zo,wat,een,verschil,uiterlyk,i­k,stop,typing,een,off,day,moe,­ik,wil,niet,moe,in,myn,hoofd,z­ynstop,typing,ik,analyzeer,je,­karakter,goed,jy,van,houd

[mollysangelique]

zo,wat,een,verschil,uiterlyk,i­k,stop,typing,een,off,day,moe,­ik,wil,niet,moe,in,myn,hoofd,z­ynstop,typing

[1980Jonno]

Ben Elton. No.

[petersingingbloke]

don't get me wrong i love black adder, etc, but i hate it when people pigeon whole someone in to a style then just mindlessly slag them off cos they don't like or cant understand the other stuff! As for selling out it's funny that people who say that are normally the ones who don't sell anything. Any successful artest has to get a balance between the fun stuff that makes the cash and then spending time on the stuff that really has something to say. Nice clip mate!

[petersingingbloke]

Inconsistent? Varied i think is the word. Hmm lets think. You can watch black adder whilst getting pissed and laugh cos you know where the jokes are and the series lasts less than 3 hours. No coincidence that people slagging off the books )which i think are verry real and take more time and understanding) are the ones stuck in the 80s with the young ones.

[bigglikeinit]

very inconsistent writer, blackadder to Get a Grip, young ones to Blessed.

[AlexDCl]

The front man for 'alternative comedy'...

[redface626]

It's weird how all Elton fans talk about is Benny Hill?

[allypallyable]

I hav just read all the total and utter bollocks slagging him off for "selling out" and how is is "hated"and that he only "pretended to have principles" and I am totally fucked off. He has and still has those principles, and you can tell that in every word that he rights. DOes that mean he shouldnt write musicals ? Because he is a lefty does he have top play working mens clubs his whole life?? The poeple slagging him off are totally fucking ridiculous.

[allypallyable]

Ben Elton is a genius! He is funny, clever, sharp is responsible for two of the most iconic series on TV. In addition to that his books are just un put downable.What basis are on slagging him off???

[CusterFlux]

Still one of the best talk shows on the planet.

[benaurelius]

i want a tooth brush classic, and i am sickk of all these people saying this guy is not funny , he is political he is up to date and of course i am a bit upset he didnt give the fat a guy a chance to talk but i like him.

[animagus1]

@benaurelius The 'fat guy' is Robbie Coltrane. He played Hagrid in the Harry Potter films.

The show works by Parky speaking with one guest and then they move over to let him speak with the next. The reason Robbie wasn't saying much was because he had already had his interview (which can be found on Youtube) and not because Ben Elton is self-centred or anything.

[bringmemybow]

is there any one worse than ben elton?

[bringmemybow]

i suppose i have to accept he did blackadder..... even though he's a clear dick head

[sail1948]

The big question : Was this idiot ever really funny?

[benaurelius]

read his books and start with 'stark' and tell me this guy is not funny.

[sail1948]

I have against my better judgement read his books and he's still an unfunny wanker.

[EminemBase]

I don't know enough about him to hate him.

I know that some hate him because they think he's sold out.

All I know is without him The Young Ones or Blackadder wouldn't of been close to what they were. So for that, I like him.

[DottyDotDitto]

I'm loving those pink socks!

lol

[Strictwest]

REAL HOT SALAMANDER

[prolo67]

you can say what you like about him,he´s a very intelligent bloke.

end of transmission-

[prettythings89]

He seems very interesting, don't know any of his work but this interview makes it hard to understand why he's so hated in Britain.

[RevRydland]

Blackadder, The thin blue line, 13 novels...he is hated because NOTHING is of limits...people thought blackadder was making a mockery of the troops who fought (among many other things) but he is a very interesting guy, very accomplished...peace

[skyman191]

Fuck Australia (bottom of the world)

[ysgwy]

Ben Elton Abadons his Labour Party dream world in London for the all White Australian Society. Looks like he could not stand living in the Multi Racial Hell Hole he Voted and supported.

[dimsimlord]

England is a shithole compared to Australia. The dollar is gaining strength and Australians have a higher reading average per capita than English people.

[agentk1986]

How can you call England a shithole when Australia gets all its music, literature, entertainment, fashion, etc. from the British Isles and also America. Seems like your suffering from a former colony complex.

[dimsimlord]

We're still a colony you idiot.

You're a good summary of the English standard of education.

[jetdave03]

Australia has certainly developed it's own traits that separate it from England; e.g.: success in sport.

[ornitorrinco01]

@jetdave03 "Australia has certainly developed it's own traits that separate it from England; e.g.: success in sport."

Like in the recent Ashes series?

[cook119]

yea but what ever happens in Australia? I'd rather live in the capital of the world thank you very much. And if England is turning into a shithole I'll go down with my ship because England is a worthy cause.

[KungfuCow5]

@dimsimlord They say the criminal always returns to the scene of the crime. Probably why there are so many Australians over here.

[ysgwy]

Good RIDDANCE BEN ELTON despicable scum

[tepporocks]

I don't hate Big Brother either, even though I never used to watch it.

But it was quite nice to have it on in the background. Sort of like one of those videos of logs on fire you could buy some years ago.

Or like having an aquarium screen-saver on your laptop.

It's there if you want it, but you don't, so you leave it to do it's thing and everybody's happy.

[danemreg]

ben elton .GENIUS

[tblack2628]

Can I just ask why...why you are attacking one of Britain's great comic brains of the last 20 years for his politics? Is that all there is to a person? Calling him a twat and a c*** is hardly productive to society...unlike Elton who has left us with gems such as Blackadder and the Young Ones.

Just think about it...

A friendly Australian.

[Fred50099]

Thanks!

[moonmatter]

Elton is a compleat twat

[richie8811]

look at the comments.... why r brits always shitting on their own talents???

[sarahnewt]

Something about BEN that annoys the Brits - He is middle England, midddle class, pretending to be working class -apparently standing up for the rights of the down trodden while his books sell all the amoral values of the Surrey set..... Oh, and he doesn't look like he has washed properly.....

[biblo]

and also because he did a complete U-turn as far as his political views are concerned

[GSBConstantine]

because ben elton is scum ? xD

[LittleErnieWise]

I used to admire Ben Eltons earlier TV work. His first two novels were fairly good quality. Now he just spouts middle-of-the-road shite. Shame on you, Mr Elton. You lost your edge a long, long time ago. Mama-freaking-mia.....Alexi Sayle has gone down the pan too. It's political correctness gone mad!

[mikelheron20]

Ben Elton has asked me to point out that "Eskimo" is non-pc.

[priggish]

He could have sold snow to Eskimos but he's not a funny man.

[dimgwalltameiben]

Has anyone got "double seat double seat gotta getta double seat!" to download. Please!! It's my fave routine. EVA!!

[fomastephanovitch]

Politics is the prostitution of the intellect.

The field is shunned by many great thinkers for this very reason.

Left/Right is the ultimate false dichotomy.

[mikelheron20]

Do you have any more inane aphorisms you would like to share?

[fomastephanovitch]

No because you're a dick and I'd rather leave you to it.

[mikelheron20]

Hmm. Not really up to the standard of the others. Keep trying though.

[londonoverground]

Ben Elton is a Tory cock!

[mousesandwich]

Ben Elton is fantastic, he's absurdly talented. What is wrong with all of you? You are comign off just as jealous to me or maybe it's because everyone is against leftys these days because of a couple of bad prime ministers. It's like you've all forgotton who wrote the Blackadder.

[cook119]

His program "get a grip" was mankinds worst ever creation

[godlessKnowledge]

Sell out!

God I hate him!

[vaj99]

He will never be a succesful as Benny hill this psuedo cockney baastud!

[mikelheron20]

Let's see now: Ben Elton: Stand-up comedian, successful writer of novels, musicals and an award winning t.v. series (Blackadder - in case you missed it). Yeah. I see your point. He could never hope to compete with Benny.

[vaj99]

I ment in world wide success. Benny hill a hit almost everywhere in the world including america russia and china! ben elton big only in uk and australia.

Ive got nothin against ben elton, i liked blackadder. but he had no right to slag off benny hill.

[mikelheron20]

I would have seen Benny Hill, or at least his brand of humour, as a legitimate target. But even if it were not, no amount of slagging off by Ben Elton would have damaged Benny if the public had disagreed with him. Let's be fair, the Benny Hill show was the same old thing (Fred Scuttle, unsubtle innuendo and Hills Angels etc.) every week. I used to watch him and laugh but there's only so many times you can laugh at the same joke. Benny never learned to move with the times. Sad but true.

[vaj99]

Look at rowan atkinson, he started doing silent comedy himself(mr bean). So this proves that benny was within the times!

Ben elton started producing 1970s style sitcoms, in the 90s!

[mikelheron20]

The tradition of silent comedy includes Chaplin, Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Jacques Tati and Marcel Marceau, Eric Sykes and even Morecambe and Wise. What's your point?

[vaj99]

U said benny was out of date, I'm assuming u think think this cuz he did silent comedy. Many of these alternative comedians who slagged benny off like Ben elton and rowan atkinson started doing silent comedy in teh 90s.

[mikelheron20]

Then you assume wrongly. I didn't mention "silent comedy" until you raised the subject. Silent comedy in the hands of a master can be hilarious. One of the funniest films I've ever seen was "The Plank" with Eric Sykes. I strongly recommend it if you haven't seen it. As for Benny, I felt his entire act/show became tired, dated, predictable and boring. I'm not saying humour has to be sophisticated but Benny's was just too obvious for modern tastes. Clearly, not everyone agrees and that's fine.

[england4ever93]

show from 1980 on-wards seemed to be more for the none english market by having the slient stuff plus his prefence for repetition more than before after 1983 after he was forced to cut back on the t & a, i have heard rummors that was what

[Bobbyjay900]

Ben Elton gets such a slagging of these days. Granted, some of it is justified but he has grown older and has tried his hand at stand up, novels, sit-coms, acting, directing, producing and musicals, the latter of which gets him slagged off largely down to him claiming to be a lefti and Lloyd Webber being pro Tory. Cant people from different political poles work together?

Also, he was famous for Thatcher bashing, and she's not been in power since 1990. Whats he supposed to do?

[insainiac33]

True, but his acting was utterly atrocious.

[tobyisgreat]

The problem that most people have with him is that he built his career in the 80's on being left-wing and radical and part of the alternative comedy movement, but in the 90's it turned out that was all an act that he put on to make money. It's not so much the quality of his work (because frankly he was never that funny anyway) it's the betrayal of his principles, or what principles he pretended to have when it suited him.

[Hitman018]

Read his book dead famous

[BoldBenHall]

Comic Genius, the man behind the Young Ones and Blackadder, I bet you knob jockeys criticising him think "Little Britain" is the funniest program ever made. Since Benny Hill at least.

[JAYROX1969]

My names Ben Elton, I'm a glorified champagne socialist and modern day Andrew Lloyd Webber, GOODNIGHT!!!

[JOECLARKEuk]

Well, personally i love the guy... You can hear what people think of him by the way Michael Parkinson and everyone else in that room is having a great laugh in agreement with what he says. AND... ENDING BH's CAREER... What a load of Bull!!!

He's funny- enough said!

[DigsterD]

wanker

[PUFC92]

What a conceited arsehole and to think, people used to consider this arrogant mockney as the epitome of so called 'cutting edge' and 'alternative' comedy! I hope he's proud of the fact he helped end Benny Hill's TV career which in turn, led to the death of Benny Hill. It's a shame Ben Elton isn't the one currently six feet under.

[queenastilon]

He helped end Benny Hill's career?

How??

Because people who'd got bored with Mr Hill started liking Ben Elton? I was there at the time; I was one of them.

How on earth can you therefore consider him responsible?

Benny Hill enjoyed decades of huge success. Most people never have that.

If you for some strange reason find it necessary to *blame* someone for Benny Hill's waning popularity and subsequent lonely death, blame the fickle public!

[mikelheron20]

Public taste changed not because it was fickle but because it matured - grew up, if you like. People no longer found Benny funny. You can't blame the public. If it ain't funny it ain't funny.

[england4ever93]

yes ben elton denounced him as a "dirty old man, tearing the clothes off nubile girls and saying he chased women when they chased him but just because the benny hill show got axed within two years but it got axed because of riseing costs of

[england4ever93]

more £450,000 per show,the raitings going from their peak of 21.63 million to 9.58 million viewers and losing 4 million viewers in the us but benny was still getting more viewers watching their than his hey day in britain in the 70's and number of british companies including thames who axed him offering a contract for revamped benny hill shows just before bennys death and yes when the show was taken off the air bennys health was failing which leaded to his death of a heart attack

[FunkyWorm3288]

Lol Ben Elton and Robbie Coltrane are like Little and Large sitting there.

[leelbelu]

I love Robbie's pink socks

[petetube99]

I can understand why Elton is so loathed. People suffered so much under thatcher that they warmed to anyone who hated her, except he only hated her out of pragmatism.

Now Sir Elton sits smugly on his massive pile of cash.

Oh well.

[siggiola32]

Funny....the jokes at the end of the clip are all used by a character on "Dead Famous", his book on "reality tv" (which is brilliant, by the way.

[bootymanager]

Elton's a bit of a mockney. Like that cunt Jamie Oliver. Fat tongued, arsehole who can't cook for shite.

[kitch77]

I Think he should go back to being a cockney and hoodwinking a nation that he's left wing.

[CrankCase08]

Bastard!

[dfarmbrough]

It's funny how they decided to refer to Parkinson as a 'talk show', when it is a chat show. Talk shows are Jerry Springer-type programmes.

[comeandplaywithme]

oh yeah, and everyone absoultely respect Jerry Springers work. NOT.

:D

Parkinson ftw!

[mikelheron20]

There is a word for the Jerry Springer show but "talk" isn't the one I was looking for.

[phil946]

his jokes written down are hilarious but for some reason, and i dont hav a clue why, his jokes dont seem to be that funny when they are coming out of his mouth

[dodadue89]

I will agree with you that Benny Hill and the others you mentioned were great. But why not Ben Elton? He's a writing machine. Blackadder, Thin Blue Line, Alfresco, The Young Ones,etc. Ben Elton was probably the closet thing to those traditional comedies. "Happy Families" need I say more? Why not bash people like Seth Rogan or Judd Apatow? That's who has destroyed comedy.

[okpopmusic]

He's a brilliant writer but an absolute rubbish stand-up I feel. Horay for the 'Alternative' comedians though.

[334286]

hes a squirmy, irritating little intellectual who encourages people to insult one another in the guise of humour.

[334286]

I can't get over the fact that times change. I can't forget the good times, either. I'M VERY SAD

[Radz117]

What has Ben Elton done to sellout? can someone tell me what he has done wrong cause i don't relaly know who he is.

[ibreeding]

MCed the Queen's birthday.

[tiddler111]

He grew up. Terrible crime, wasn't it? I'm with you, I love Ben Elton.

[longerdaysdyings]

Grew up?

No. He ruined Blackadder with 3 series of nob jokes & pathetic puns, made shitloads of cash writing similarly crap novels based around pathetic puns, then wrote a shit Queen musical.

He did not "grow up"...he sold out.

[redplague]

What's wrong with knob jokes?

[cielobuio]

Dodgy MF !

[naturalbornkiller4]

stewrat lee makes a good point about him. it's on youtub

[tiddler111]

stewart lee makes a complete knobhead of himself you mean. the guy's a complete saddo with a huge chip on his shoulder for some reason. Ben is quality.

[334286]

ben elton is crap. and he made comedy crap, too. destroyed the true comedy legends, r. barker, benny hill, dick emery, dave allen tommy cooper, etc etc. He should have been killed off, like he did to the greats.....

[floydiac]

Heh...slapstick was utter shite. Alternative comedy was where it was at. Get over the fact that times change. Forget Benny Hill...Bring on Ben Elton, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Rowan Atrkinson and all the others.

[SarahMacgregor]

He's singing songs for George Bush now, do keep up.

[OnTilt710]

He wrote blackadder. Therefore he is not crap.

[dfarmbrough]

Well, he co-wrote the last three series of it, together with Richard Curtis. The first was by Curtis and Rowan Atkinson. Your point is correct though, he is a good writer, and wrote or co-wrote The Young Ones, Filthy Rich and Catflap and Happy Families, so he has a good pedigree.

[Faidenne]

Yeah I recognised the part about the toothbrushes and the bit about ice creams from Dead Famous. Fantastic book I've just reread :D

[machete97]

any of you read dead famous ? one character has a rant on the toothbrush subject and its funny as fuck. ben elton rules. best author ever

btw McCameronGiles2k8 why are you even watching this ?

lol nice socks robbie

[pivotgodxd]

hell yeh it rocks

[mindat21]

british people love bitching dont they?

[ywrtywto09]

Surely Americans love bitching too, after all your TV "news" and "current affairs" seems to be made up more and more of empty rhetorical "bitching" every year and less and less about facts, understanding and context...

[ch1mpanzeethat]

So does ours.

[acidtrashy]

and you get understanding and context from the bbc? dream on.

[mang0mang0mang0]

100% class

[zet7zet]

Ben Elton, that's him that bumped off Benny Hill, Innit?

[McCameronGiles2k8]

he is the most unfunny person ever

ben elton, i have seen funnier pieces of shit than that man

[MaxSafeheaD]

Not a Blackadder fan then?!

[McCameronGiles2k8]

Nope

they said on mock the week last week

on scenes we'd like to see

'tonight as not all about comedy, so here's ben elton'

Also when he did his chat show, he went for 3 and a half minutes talking about himself, how fucking boring is he?

[MaxSafeheaD]

Bill Bailey?

[McCameronGiles2k8]

nooo, ben elton, he is soo unfunny

robbie coltraine know's he shit, look at him, hes thinking omg thats not funny at all

[tiddler111]

well, there is you.

[mrmalade]

ben elton, very well observed and still  cynical as ever

[narbularity]

You have no taste Bernard Mannings is a screwbag who I'm happy to see the back of.

[tubelogin1]

bbc sucks... get off youtube, you big CNN slurping thugs

[sasmanwayne]

Do you have something that vaguely resembles a point to make??

[urbium2]

Probably something along the lines of "DEMOCRATZ SUCK GO RON PAUUUUL." Something smart and intelligent, no doubt.

Ben Elton's Popcorn is simply a masterpiece, both the play and novella.

[SkyBluPinked]

Just finished Blind Faith, Ben Elton is a very clever writer.

[narbularity]

YEEEEOOOO !!!!!!!!!!! Amen to that !

[mastermindmichel]

He is!

[newtonboi]

Just worked with him really nice guy!

[imangrynow]

Lucky you he's great :D!

[Janwolf]

I have adored Ben Elton for more years than I care to remember! Still do.

[Mahocky]

Ben Elton is naturally the funniest and most talented british comedian in years. Genius!

[keflar5]

sell out cunt, to think i used to worship this twat, man from auntie still stands up as a true class prog

[narbularity]

You have obviously strayed from the path of righteousness I hope you return soon.

[keflar5]

i didnt stray anywhere, he did: the moment he started raping Queen songs for Andrew Loyd wallpaper and writing sit coms with a banality and mental laziness of fasict proportions. He died years ago get over it, now his biggest gripe at these hitlarian times is that supermarkets put chocolate at the checkouts, total cunt thats what he is

[floydiac]

Did you ever see his old 1980s stand up? He always complained about simple things like that.

[fusionfreq]

Prime Minister Elton

[queenkoti]

Strange you said that as a comment to the other Ben Elton video's. Are you you Mr Elton himself trying to increase his popularity through reverse psychology? Are you a struggling novelist? or do you just enjoy wasting everybodies time?

[1tyresius]

imo. that means "in my opinion". am i not entitled to an opinion queenkunti ? are you a struggling neurosurgeon ? or a struggling insurance clerk ?

[queenkoti]

Man you really are a one trick pony aren't you. Yes you are entitled to an opinion but so am I.

[1tyresius]

i dont think i am a one trick pony, but you are entitled to your opinion. its called democracy and freedom of speech.

[queenkoti]

Gosh i'm glad you pointed that out or I'd have never have recognised it. I'll leave you to quietly foam at the mouth in indignation then. bye

[1tyresius]

queertoti, did you foam at the mouth with indignation when you studied neuroscience all that time and then finding your future was in selling insurance ? ha ha ha ha.

you make me laugh more than ben elton !

[prettythings89]

I like him.

[RichardBUnique]

Ben Elton is such a talented and well versed comedian/writer and its a clip such as this which goes to showcase this. Thanks for posting.

[elelamb]

i like his books but not him unfortunately, lol, elelamb :D

[Flighn]

Same, he is a cock in real life but a farking writing genious..

[elelamb]

lol, i know someone put a thumbs down on me for puttin that but in my opinion its true.

[Flighn]

Heh, well I gave you a thumbs up.

[dragonlee90]

I don't agree with his political views, however, one can't deny his wit and comedic skills.

[moochy]

Ben Elton is great. I love it when he goes off on one.

[xXSlaPXx]

hes ok, old skool comedian

[nexislex]

Ben Elton... not as funny as he thinks he is

[jialabi]

He's a bit of a big head, but I think he's witty and a good comedian. A Cool guy

[elelamb]

his books are better than his standups and stuff

[numbnuts1986]

shait

[1REACH1]

ur a prick