More than 30 years ago, Ben Elton exploded into the national consciousness hosting Channel 4’s ground-breaking Saturday Live. From there it was only inevitable he would be behind some of Britain’s best loved comedies, including joining the writing team for the Blackadder series, The Thin Blue Line, The Young Ones, The Man From Auntie and recently Upstart Crow.

A man of many talents, writing has always been part of his craft, 15 novels, including Stark, Gridlock, Popcorn and Two Brothers, and also bringing the music of Queen to the stage in the long running West End production of We Will Rock You, now, after a 15-year absence, the godfather of modern stand-up returns to the medium he did so much to define.