What Have I Done? out in October

Ben Elton has written his autobiography, entitled What Have I Done?

Out in October, the title covers his full 65 years, from his childhood in Catford, South London, becoming the BBC’s youngest ever sitcom writer at 21, and going to write Blackadder, The Young Ones and Upstart Crow.

Publishers Macmillan describe it as ‘a frank, forthright and entertaining autobiography’, adding: ‘ Alongside unique insights into his ground-breaking work, Ben talks honestly and hilariously 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".’

Elton has written 16 novels to date, from Stark in 1989 to Identity Crisis  in 2019, five West End plays and the Queen musical We Will Rock You.

He recently completed the UK leg of his latest stand-up show Authentic Stupidity and is currently performing it around Australia, where he lives.

• Lenny Henry has written another book with journalist Marcus Ryder, this one making the case for the West paying reparations for the slave trade. The Big Payback is also out in October and follows their previous collaborations  Access All Areas: The Diversity Manifesto for TV and Beyond and Black British Lives Matter: A Clarion Call for Equality.

Published: 18 Mar 2025