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Ben Elton in conversation with Adrian Edmondson

Barrel of Laughs: What Have I Done? A Memoir

Hay Festival 2026, 

What has Ben Elton done? What hasn’t he done? After no less than fifteen best-selling novels, writing for hit shows like Blackadder and The Young Ones, creating The Thin Blue Line, three West End plays and three musicals (and that’s only scratching the surface of writing credits), Elton has finally written something about his own life. Expect unvarnished, uncensored and undeniably funny recollections from 45 years of making the nation laugh. Elton talks to his friend, the actor and comedian Adrian Edmondson.

Ben Elton in conversation with Adrian Edmondson