Ben Elton On Writing, Directing and Starring In ‘We Will Rock You’

[@hoisin75]

how is it not Sir Ben now? his services to comedy over our lifetime is unpresidented. My dad was film editor on Series 2 of the Young Ones which got me through school and beyond...wouldn't have happened without Ben. A legend.

[@helenl3193]

Perhaps he was offered one and turned it down? I think they do approach some people before the official announcements to avoid public refusals/protests

[@sharpvidtube]

The Tories wont give it to him because of his Thatcher rants, Labour didn't give it to him because he had a go at Tony Blair? Maybe the nest Labour government will, but I hope he refuses it, as its nonsense. I hoped after Sir Jimmy Savile, they would scrap the honours system.

[@beakyfree7023]

The wit of Ben Elton is something to aspire to.

[@GWills-ys6rd]

It's so refreshing to discover that Ben Elton hasn't changed at all despite the passing of time. He still has 'that' glint in his eyes. The show must go on! 😉

[@Elwaves2925]

Grey hairs, a few wrinkles, "a little bit of rock music" instead of politics and that's about it.

[@jackcramtery]

Handsome, ain’t he?

[@cristinapadovaniginies4464]

So true!. What a passionate and creative man. I imagine going for a pint with him, just sitting and listening to him for hours chatting about his works and personal experiences. He has this lovely energy that just draws you in ☺

[@GWills-ys6rd]

@@cristinapadovaniginies4464 Absolutely, a creative force of nature. I’d love to know where this stemmed from at such a young age (The Young Ones).

[@cristinapadovaniginies4464]

@@GWills-ys6rd Yes hehe i love his energy and enthusiasm because i feel i am very much like him. I'm 32 years old. Everything i know i owe to my dad. Growing up was such fun as he always introduced me to and taught me to love and respect anything classic....whether it was Music (60s/70s/80s), Tv shows, movies or even really old classic black and white (or remastered colured) Puppet cartoons like Thunderbirds, Stingray, Captain Scarlet etc. It gave me a lot of appreciation for the amount of work and artistry that went into creating those puppets with strings and filming them. CGI today is great and so realistic...but sometimes i cannot help but admire the old fashioned ways for their handwork and simplicity ❤. Sometimes i think I'm just a young person that was born in the wrong period 😆. As for Ben Elton...initially what drew me to his work (for years now) was Blackadder! 😁with Fry and Laurie. It was brilliantly written! so witty, sarcastic and hilarious... hahaha British humour is honestly top tier. After Blackadder i discovered 'Alfresco' which was also with Ben Elton, Fry, Laurie and Emma Thompson-I Love her. Then last but not least...the Young Ones of course. But till this day i still think that Black Adder was his best work. All these classics will never die, and they remain so pleasantly re-watchable over and over again without them being tedious...and on that fact alone...that right there is Genius work and such accomplishment. An art form that NEVER dies 🙂.

[@AdamS365]

The most interesting and enjoyable episode yet! I hope Ben understands just how important The Young Ones truly is. I’m middle aged but still quote lines from those magical 12 episodes on a weekly basis. Judge away… What an extraordinary man Ben is - his effort to be as truthful as possible was very evident, and very impressive. Brilliant stuff 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@ThePhudD]

Ben took so much flak for the Queen musical, thank jebus it hasn’t stifled his muse. He’s had as much cultural impact as the Pythons. Top interview. Thanks Rob.

[@shaolinpunkFTW]

Ben Elton is such a legend and shares the same birthday as me too :p

[@paulburton9386]

This is the best of your interviews to date. I really enjoyed that. Yes, volume 2 soon, please!

[@campervannie5948]

Love Ben Elton! Love remembering Rick Mayall ❤️

[@ShipsCaptain-xc4yx]

It’s amazing how he goes from an action movie character to an interviewer.

[@annala2956]

Rob and Ben discussing Queen and "The Young Ones". I am here for it! So glad these have returned.

[@nicholasjohnson4124]

I was in a restaurant in Portugal with the family a few years ago, went to the toilet and when I got back, Cliff was sitting at the next table about 2 yards away from me. And my first reaction was to think, 'Look out, Cliff'. Grew up on The Young Ones, this was such a lovely chat. Once you've been heavily involved in Blackadder and The Young Ones, you have absolutely nothing left to prove. Genius.

[@livmaher6527]

My favourite author!

[@DerekBolli]

"The Young Ones" was the Goon Show for Gen Xers like me. Great fun at school in Wellington NZ doing all the voices and trading favourite lines and catchphrases with schoolmates 👍 Thanks Ben

[@davidevans3227]

glad people out there remember the goons.. did you do goon sketches? comics strip presents: bad news 🙂

[@DerekBolli]

@@davidevans3227 Oh yes, The Goon Show re-runs were still broadcast on National Radio AM (the NZ version of the BBC) in the 80s so they were also part of our repertoire 🙂

[@davidevans3227]

@@DerekBolli i love it.. from 'by yer' in south glamorgan, watching rob brydon and ben elton.. to New Zealand ..and teenage goon- idge united by language and humour.. 🙂 bbc still broadcast them on a channel just for old stuff, Radio four extra ..and of course here on KZbin.

[@TicTaxx]

Great interview. Life long Queen fan and big fan of Ben (Stark and This Other Eden are two of my all time favourite books) so this was a great 25 minutes of KZbin

[@simoncarswell3515]

People love to slag Elton off, but This Other Eden predicted extreme climate change 30 years ago. What, at the time, seemed almost ridiculously hypothetical now seems unbelievably prescient. I hope more people discover this incredible book.

[@philn1957]

More of this please, what an interesting conversation 👌

[@Rasperdan]

After growing up with The Young Ones and at the time being a "Young Adult" I was a huge fan of Ben Elton. Then he just dropped off the radar and I remember feeling like success turned him into the type of person he used to criticise. Now I am a "Young Pensioner" I can see he just moved on to other projects. Thank you Rob, Listening to Ben again has been a breath of fresh air. Watching you both riffing a little and enjoying a good conversation has been an absolute joy..... great pod cast.

[@carolegreenall1919]

Take a look at Black Adder and The Upstart Crow some time

[@Rasperdan]

@@carolegreenall1919 Not sure why you made that comment after reading my post ?

[@Cheepchipsable]

Well he did do The Thin Blue Line.

[@cainsy8124]

A couple of years ago I was walking along a path in North Fremantle beside the Swan River. I had been out getting in some training for a major hike and an hour previously I had been caught in a down pour and was feeling pretty sorry for myself. But as I made my way I came across a family walking the other way and although I was wrapped in my soggy thoughts we exchanged, Hellos. As I walked past the guy exchanging smiles with me and I thought, 'Wow, that guy really looks like Ben Elton!' A hundred metres later I realized, 'Bloody hell! That was Ben Elton!' A year later I saw Ben in his one man show at the Astor Theater in Perth. It was hilarious, all about the Altz! And I'm huge Queen fan but I've never seen We Will Rock You. Is it any good? Queen may not be the best band, of course they are to me, but they are THE Band, in that way Tom Baker is THE Doctor.

[@shaolinpunkFTW]

Freo. Great place.

[@BenJandrell]

What a superb sharing of intellect, whit and warmness from both Ben and Rob 🤟

[@ianclarke3627]

What a writer, and no mention of blackadder or upstart crow ,already looking forward to part 2.

[@sharpvidtube]

I liked The Thin Blue Line too.

[@Yewbzee]

Awesome pair of blokes.

[@Devinn777]

Loved this episode! At 24:59 the full slang is “Don’t piss in my pocket and tell me it’s raining” meaning don’t try to trick me. So if you say “I’m not pissing in your pocket” it means I’m not lying to you, which is aimed at strengthening whatever comment you said just before you used the slang. PS the noun from “taking the piss” is a pisstake.

[@Stocko1234]

Loved this and I could listen to Ben speak all day. Well done Rob, and as you said there is so much more to talk about. I very much hope there is a sequel. I would love to read an autobiography but surprisingly there isn't one, although it seems one was hinted a few years back but then completely vanished

[@SuperTonywilliams]

Please do another with Ben, so interesting and so many more stories to tell. Great podcast Rob, thanks 👍

[@adamsaundersrocks]

Great to see Ben Elton speak. 25 minutes not enough. Genius. I'm taking 'This Other Eden' off the shelf for a revisit. It's been too long!

[@evenstrained]

I am so happy to see your newest interviews. Really great work. All the best.

[@chrisbarker1046]

I hadn't seen Ben Elton in years and years, nice to him again, and that spark it's still there

[@sharpvidtube]

He did a Friday Night Live on Channel 4 last year. Thought he was great, as sharp as he ever was. It's still on the C4 website

[@AndersWatches]

I wasn’t born until nearly five years after Freddie died, but he and Queen are my all time favourites. The loves of my life. ❤ I wish I could sing, and therefore be in a production of WWRY, but alas I’m just an actor 😔😅

[@helenswan705]

keep trying mate, you surely can sing and dont give up cos you are not Freddie. None of us can be like that. Can still enjoy singing. For me, its the local folk club!

[@AndersWatches]

@@helenswan705 Well it is certainly true that nobody could ever match Freddie lol I genuinely cannot sing though 😅 aside from my singing voice itself not sounding nice, I’ve had a difficult time fully controlling the pitch of my voice ever since my voice broke, despite being fairly musically inclined. I’d need a lot of vocal training (I do intend to have some but not for this specific purpose), and even then I’m a very niche look so I don’t know that there would be many musicals with a role for me regardless. Acting is my greatest passion anyways, singing ability would be helpful but it’s not essential.

[@golfer45nz]

Ben Elton is a legend

[@TheRagzzz]

Might just be your best one yet Rob.

[@helenswan705]

I wish I could see it, tho I prob could not afford it. Love Queen, love elton and LOVE BRYDON

[@the_trooper_72]

It's Ben Elton... IT'S BEN ELTON!!!!! 👍🏻😎💯🙏🏻

[@angeladawn805]

#mostSoutherlyShow. My family and I enjoyed an excellent We Will Rock You, last year, in Invercargill. It was awesome

[@jimharrison748]

So refreshing to see Ben and hear his take on things again. Comedy misses you Ben!

[@susanjames1227]

Fabulous! Thank you, thank you, thank you 🙏❤️

[@wingsofwalnuts]

Ben Elton is a legend. I’ll try and see We will rock you. Top video Rob butt!

[@butlerns1]

Great interview. I would say that "Pissing in your pocket" is more akin to "Blowing smoke up your arse"

[@bonce]

"I assumed that I'm not pissing in your pocket, mate" is down to the earnestness of leaning in to someone to tell them something from the heart.

[@sharpvidtube]

I guess it's the opposite of taking the piss? If taking the piss is mocking someone, given them piss is the opposite? Lots off ways to use the word piss, and 💩

[@KingRealEstate]

Rob & Ben... Perfect!

[@kevinhendon]

Saw the Show again last Sunday (3rd time) and was brilliant with some new lines & songs, some great one liners from the Master "Ben" 👏👏👏👏

[@jamesgreen9611]

And then there was The Young Ones- Ben Elton is quite brilliant, highly entertaining, hearing him just reminds me of one of my heroes Rik Mayall- maybe Rik Mayall and the comedy strip presents as a theatre show…?

[@savannahbanks]

So nice for us that Ben lives in our suburb!

[@AmandaRosscactus]

This was delicious! I’m a massive fan of both these men, so it was joyful to join their chat! It was like having a warm bath sipping a delicious glass of wine. Rob, please please please do part two as there is so much more. We can enjoy from you two!

[@robertroughton1155]

The moment when Ben is talking about video recording The Young One’s I had to yell at the TV “Have we got a video “

[@layalabi1667]

Thank you!!!!!!!!

[@simonsaysrewind]

Wow... think this my fave ever rb interview... hope a part 2 is on the cards. Very engaging left you wanting more.

[@stevesguitar9586]

I tuned in for you Ben ;)

[@ISO-guys]

Another great interview/discussion.

[@AntFlynn]

Thu was absolutely fantastic.

[@markmowbray1769]

Great interview Rob.

[@FineYungCannibal.]

Upsetting that he wouldn't say he'd definitely do another one. We need to hear him talk more Rik Mayall and then expand to Blackadder.

[@darrendemello3225]

Quality chat!

[@WrittlesCave]

The man from the Beeb!

[@likeakite]

That was great !

[@billberndtson]

00:36 This is me, I'm afraid. But, I'm sure it'll be a fun and fascinating interview! 😃

[@julianlineham]

Legends

[@salmonesque]

Bloomin' 'eck that was good.

[@StevenTwoTwo]

Brilliant

[@stewartreadman4194]

More please

[@tonycowin]

I've never got Queen. I think it's because I found them to be vaudevillian and novelty. But man that band was packed to the sky with talent. However, I'm so glad Ben has this project he so obviously loves. He's a brilliant creative who is too often sneered at by people without an ounce of his talent.

[@marknewbold2583]

They were a novelty act

[@carlbirchall1632]

​@@marknewbold2583 How an Earth a band that did sell out tours...sold over 200 million records be a novelty act?

[@sharpvidtube]

@@carlbirchall1632 More than a novelty act, but way down my list of favourite bands, because their albums had too many skippable songs. Their greatest hits are good, perfect for the younger generations, that don't listen to albums.

[@sera2775]

Elton doesn’t take a break 😂

[@noneofyoubusiness4895]

12:43 Ah, Ben! You and your controversial jokes : - D

[@jasminedyer3539]

will it be filmed for us internationals? (eltons home, western australia)

[@mustafa1name]

Speaking of 'don't stop me now', check out the 56-trombone cover - it's a blast

[@monty3854]

7:17 What was that?

[@davidevans3227]

thanks rob for saying Andrew Loyd Webber

[@secretsymphony]

It's unusual to see Ben Elton without him wearing his glittery suit...

[@Cheepchipsable]

To "piss in ones pocket", is used to mean someone is perhaps lying or being overly effusive with compliments. So if they say something you don't believe, you would say "I think he was pissing in my pocket..." You might say to someone "I don't want to piss in your pocket..." as a way of saying you are being truthful. It's a bit like someone being friendly to your face, but doing something unpleasant "downstairs"... Having said that I've not heard anyone use that expression in years.

[@C64_Mat]

I do tune in to anyone you speak to, and I don't particularly like Ben Elton, WWRY, or Queen... I just like to watch your show 😊

[@davidshattock9522]

Ask Rob what was it like to sing withsir Tom the voice Jones

[@alanmoss3479]

all my life's a circle written by Harry Chapin

[@TomMarvan]

Oh, I saw Elton in the headline and clicked. Will he sing Tiny Dancer?

[@WilliamLucas-ef6qc]

I more want him to get out his tiny dancer ngl

[@tonycowin]

Tiny Dancer in a Box.

[@class58]

"I wrote" comes in early, doesn't it?

[@GammonNoone]

Tom Scott has aged

[@TheTruthKiwi]

Wow, Ben has lost his youthful nerdy pratishness and is now just a class act. Sharp as a tack to boot.

[@ThreadBomb]

And of course, plenty of people enjoy both The Young Ones and The Good Life.

[@Surety-62]

Oh Ben. Queen played Sun City while apartheid was in place & Mandela was in jail. I don’t care whether you like their music or not that is indefensible.

[@gigmcsweeney8566]

An interesting podcast, though I can't say I've ever been a huge fan of Ben Elton. I found some of his writing for Blackadder to be quite puerile and his perpetuation of the despicable 'lions led by donkeys' myth quite unforgivable.