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Ben Elton

Ben Elton

Writer, actor and director · Born May 3, 1959 (67) · London, England, UK

Already a successful comedian, Ben Elton turned to writing situation comedies during the 1980s and penned BBC classics such as "The Young Ones" (1982), "Black-Adder II" (1986), "Black Adder the Third" (1987), "Blackadder 4" (1989) and during the 1990s "The Thin Blue Line" (1995). He provided lyrics for Andrew Lloyd Webber's 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 (2006) (TV).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 3, 1959 (67)
From
London, England, UK
Works as
Writer, actor and director
Titles
15 on MovieCove · 54 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 27% in 30 days

What are Ben Elton's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
26%
Self
20%
Society
19%
Ideas
15%
Morality
10%
Power
6%
Survival
3%
Art4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 6 · Serious 2 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 5 · Stylized 0 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 1 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 4 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
6
Warm
6
Joyful
5
Contemplative
3
Melancholic
3
Other
7

How their films linger

Fun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet1
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ben Elton's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 5 of their 15 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on BritBox (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ben Elton's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

54 credits, 15 with a MovieCove page; 31 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Ben Elton: The Great Railway Disaster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Writer · as Self

  • Blackadder: A Cunning Story(2023)

    Thanks · as Self - Contributor

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Ben Elton: Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Writer · as Self

  • Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Have You Been Paying Attention? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Panellist

  • All Is True(2018)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • How The Young Ones Changed Comedy(2018)

    as (Archive Footage)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Three Summers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director · Writer

  • Upstart Crow(2016)

    Show 18 episodes · Creator · Writer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • A Life on Screen: Stephen Fry(2015)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Wright Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show Creator

  • Love Never Dies(2012)

    Musical · Writer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The One Ronnie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Writer

  • Angela and Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Blackadder Exclusive: The Whole Rotten Saga(2008)

    Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Get a Grip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Blessed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

  • Bottom Mindless Violence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Baz (archive footage)

  • Enough Rope With Andrew Denton (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Maybe Baby(2000)

    Director · Novel · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Blackadder: Back & Forth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Writer

  • The Heaven and Earth Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Ben Elton Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • Ben Elton: Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Writer · as Himself

  • TFI Friday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 9 episodes · Actor

  • The Thin Blue Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 14 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer · as Homeless Man

  • Harry Enfield and Chums (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Benny Elton

  • Filth! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Writer · as Himself

  • Stark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · Author · Creator · Writer · as CD

  • Ben Elton: Very Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Writer · as Self

  • Much Ado About Nothing(1993)

    as Verges

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Rowan Atkinson Live: Invisible Drum Kit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Writer

  • Rowan Atkinson Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Writer

  • Mr. Bean Takes an Exam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Writer

  • Ben Elton: The Man from Auntie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 12 episodes · Creator · Actor

  • Mr. Bean(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · Writer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Laugh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Writer · as Self

  • Oh No, Not Them(1989)

    Creator · Writer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Saturday Night Clive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Blackadder's Christmas Carol(1988)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Blackadder: The Cavalier Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Writer

  • French & Saunders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Guest

  • Filthy Rich & Catflap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 6 episodes · Creator · Writer · as Art Exhibition Guest

  • Omnibus Presents Comic Relief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Saturday Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 30 episodes · as Host

  • Girls On Top (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 13 episodes · Script Editor

  • Happy Families (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 6 episodes · Writer · as Roland

  • Madness the Pilot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Writer

  • The Black Adder(1983)

    Show 18 episodes · Creator · Writer · as Anarchist

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Alfresco(1983)

    Show 13 episodes · Writer · as Various

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • The Young Ones(1982)

    Show 12 episodes · Creator · Writer · as Baz · as Grange Hill Student · as Man in Hawk Advert · as Radio DJ

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • There's Nothing to Worry About! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 3 episodes · Creator · Writer · as Various

  • O.T.T. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Laughs and Larrikins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 39th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 53 titles, 52 of them dated from 1982 to 2023.

Biggest box office

All Is True (2018)

$3M worldwide

Highest rated

Mr. Bean (1990)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting27 of 53: 18 only acting, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score89thDirecting3 of 53: 1 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting30 of 53: 19 only writing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score84thProducing1 of 53: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew11 of 53: 3 only other crew, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score81st

53 titles, 12 with more than one role — writing and acting overlap on 8 of them.

By decade

1980s16 · 11 acting · 11 crew1990s17 · 8 acting · 12 crew2000s7 · 4 acting · 3 crew2010s8 · 2 acting · 6 crew2020s4 · 1 acting · 3 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Ben Elton's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 72nd percentile, the median of all 10; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 15 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 15 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · writer

Oh No, Not Them (1989)

99th percentile spread · 56% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer

Mr. Bean (1990)

Midcredits 97th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 60/100 and the plot and story 50/100 in their films, across 4 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ben Elton's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 43 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Ben Elton work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ben Elton's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rowan Atkinson shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Mixed roles