Ben Elton

Benjamin Charles Elton (born 3 May 1959) is an English Comedian, TV writer, entertainer, writer, dramatist, TV director, screenwriter, movie director, lyricist, stage director, and TV director. He was a part of the sitcoms The Young Ones and Blackadder. He has penned 17 books. The Beautiful Game (2000), We Will Rock You (2002), Tonight's the Night (2003), and Love Never Dies (2010), the continuation to The Phantom of the Opera. His books cover the dystopian, parody, and crime genres. 

Elton was born on 3 May 1959 at University College Hospital in Fitzrovia, London asthe child of Mary, an English instructor from Cheshire, and physicist and instructive specialist Professor Lewis Elton. He is a nephew of the historian Sir Geoffrey Elton and a third cousin of singer Olivia Newton-John. Elton's dad is from a German-Jewish family and Elton's mom, who was brought up in the Church of England, is of English background.

Elton grew up in Catford, south London, before moving with his family to Guildford, Surrey, in 1968, where he involved in amateur drama groups. His first TV appearance was a stand-up presentation on the BBC1, Oxford Road Show. At 23, he came as co-writer of the TV sitcom The Young Ones. 

In 1985, Elton created his first performance script for the BBC with his satire show, Happy Families, starring Jennifer Saunders and Adrian Edmondson. Elton appeared in the series too.