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What Have I Done?

My Autobiography

Ben Elton

$70.95   $64.11

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English
Macmillan
14 October 2025
What has Ben Elton done?

He's written the most eagerly anticipated show business autobiography of the year. That's what.

And prior to that? Well he's pretty much done everything and worked with everybody and now he's telling the whole story in one unputdownable volume. Sixty-five years in the making, this frank, forthright and hugely entertaining autobiography takes a deep dive into Ben's life and times, both private and public. He reveals the true stories behind iconic hits such as The Young Ones, Blackadder and We Will Rock You, his pioneering routines hosting Saturday Live, which birthed a revolution in stand-up comedy, and so much more. Ben recounts his life and uniquely varied career from his Catford childhood and being the BBC's youngest ever sit com writer at 21 right up to the present day, with yet another hit sit com, Upstart Crow; a surprise late-life BAFTA; and his most critically acclaimed stand-up comedy show to date.

Alongside unique insights into his ground-breaking work, Ben talks honestly and compellingly about his personal and professional relationships with two generations of brilliant friends, inspiring contemporaries, occasional foes, and the times in which they all lived. And Ben's life has been just as challenging, rewarding and funny off screen as it has been on. He unpacks it all with wit, insight and complete honesty. And of course, there's a 'little bit of politics'.

For forty-five years Ben's been making a lot of people laugh, a lot of people think and getting on quite a lot of people's wicks. All of which means he has a lot of stories and he tells them unvarnished and uncensored - he's sharing his truth as they say these days, and he's up to his neck in it!
By:  
Imprint:   Macmillan
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 234mm,  Width: 153mm, 
ISBN:   9781035059942
ISBN 10:   1035059940
Pages:   480
Publication Date:  
Recommended Age:   From 18 years
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming

Ben Elton is a multi-award-winning novelist, playwright, television writer, screenwriter and lyricist. He is also a theatre, screen and TV director, a stand-up comedian and a very occasional actor. Born in Catford, south-east London, in 1959, Ben was state-educated and studied drama at Manchester University, where he now holds an honorary doctorate. He began his professional career in 1981. Ben married Australian bass player Sophie in 1994, they have three grown up children and divide their time between Britain and Australia. In 2007 Ben Elton was awarded the Special Golden Rose d'Or at The International Television Festival in Lucerne, Switzerland, for his lifetime contribution to the television arts.

Reviews for What Have I Done?: My Autobiography

What Have I Done? snaps, crackles and pops with wit, bravado and glorious Ben-ness. A triumph -- Stephen Fry Funny and fascinating, it’s a story of triumph and disaster and is the closest you’ll get to understanding where great comedy comes from -- David Mitchell Gripping, funny, breathtakingly honest and endlessly entertaining -- Richard Curtis A gloriously dizzying ride through Ben Elton’s long and (still) very successful career, taking in the highs, the lows, the accolades and the slights. Bloody marvellous -- Jo Brand A big life chronicled by truly the Upstart Crow of our generation -- Dawn French Ben Elton is one of the greatest comedy talents of all time, ever, in any era -- Marina Hyde Tragedy, comedy and honesty make this book possibly the best autobiography you'll ever read -- Brian May What has he done? Written a brilliant memoir, that’s all. Funny, touching, dazzling -- Gyles Brandreth Provocative, hilarious, compassionate, dodgy politically, acerbic yet full of love, the real Ben leaps from every wonderfully written page -- Andrew Lloyd Webber As wildly honest, funny and smart as the man himself -- Kenneth Branagh Ben tells his life story with the same genius wit of his legendary stand-up, hilarious novels and iconic television series -- David Walliams Uproariously serious with trenchant bursts of truth, fury and incendiary fun -- Neil Kinnock Ben has given joy to countless millions. This is a wonderful book. Every creative young person should read it -- Harry Enfield This is a rich helping of sheer pleasure, overflowing with wit, intelligence and phenomenal anecdotes from one of Britain’s greatest ever talents -- Victoria Coren Mitchell It’s a miracle Ben Elton managed to fit such an incredibly full life into one volume, but that’s testament to the fact that he is one of the most creative, inventive and prolific writers of the last 50 years. This book and his life are a triumph! -- Amanda Ross * Between the Covers * Beautifully written and a great insight into the prolific Ben Elton’s work and life - passionate, humorous, insightful and honest. You won’t put it down. -- Twiggy


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