It's a pretty extraordinary outburst, this – replete with references to the impact on his family of the vitriol heaped on him for 2013 sitcom The Wright Way – that Elton tries to rein in, but can't. ("I've done what I never do, which is prove to be over-sensitive …") I offer him a get-out, by emphasising the positive – which is that, to engender such a sharp sense of betrayal, his work was clearly hugely important to people in the first place. And isn't it fascinating that we can invest so much in, and expect so much of, a comedian? West End and UK Theatre venue performances cancelled due to coronavirus". What's on Stage. 16 March 2020 . Retrieved 2 April 2020. Reid, Kate (23 February 2016). "Wiggling into Penrith". Westernweekender.com.au . Retrieved 7 August 2018.

Ben Elton: ‘How am I going to say something when you can’t Ben Elton: ‘How am I going to say something when you can’t

A powerful Hollywood executive whose sexual predation on women for many years was the main catalyst for the #MeToo movement. I like to think that Ben Elton usually adds an extra layer of something that might just be true to really elevate a social phenomenon. This one was a little too literal for me, and maybe it's just the age gap showing, but his attempts at levity through his dialogue (usually a huge strength) fell a little flat. I felt like he was trying to explain mindsets and get his audience up to speed on the language and approaches rather than doing anything innovative with them. On tour again: Ben Elton performs on stage at the Point in Dublin in 1993. His first tour for 15 years tour starts at the Olympia in Dublin. Photograph: Dominic Ledwidge O’Reilly/Getty Some is manufactured, "sometimes relatively innocently" by people with their own axes to grind shouting perhaps louder than they would do in a face to face debate.

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If it had been nothing but satire, I would have gotten tired of the nastiness of different interest groups being manipulated to bash each other. But there is also a murder mystery that drives the plot and that’s quite well done. Sometimes, however, it seems that it is a dizzying forest of hash tags driving the novel forward. If one moral or political position is acceptable this week, the death of another marginalised group member or the exposure of another predator changes the conversation next week. It’s all too easy to find oneself on the wrong side of history or to become toxic. And it’s not just the perpetrators (alleged or real) who suffer. There’s quite a touching story somewhere in the middle of the novel of Cassie Trinder, a hopeful actress who finally lands her dream position playing the young Princess Elizabeth in a movie, The Royal Closet. She even undergoes the humiliating casting couch charade of a final reading with Harvey Weinstein to land the role, just before Weinstein is exposed as a sexual predator and the whole project becomes too ‘toxic’ to proceed. Years later, with her career yet to take off, a new production of The Royal Closet is announced, except she’s now deemed too old to play the part. Cassie fights for a role in the production, yet her success is once again frustrated when Rodney Watson (a serial predator himself who has revived his career by playing the role of the ‘woke’ male) is exposed. Cassie ‘s career seems to be once more stalled when the production is cancelled a second time. In June 2023, Elton presented Ben Elton: The Great Railway Disaster, a Channel 4 documentary about rail privatisation. [24] As writer and producer [ edit ] Any issues with the book list you are seeing? Or is there an author or series we don’t have? Let me know!

Identity Crisis by Ben Elton - Penguin Books Australia

I'm going to say upfront that while I really enjoyed this book, I'm not sure the humour would be for everyone. Previous satire novels from this author are right up there in my top favourite books ever (Blind Faith and Chart Throb if you are looking for recommendations haha) and this new one has a similar feel to them. However, it is definitely controversial and no doubt would be offensive to some readers in relation to both its themes (identity, pronouns and online rage) as well as profanity (the 'c word' is used a few times, consider yourself warned). Again, like his previous satire novels, the storyline is both ridiculous and yet also scarily believable. The characters are not necessarily likeable, but are highly entertaining. Ashe, Eliza (1 December 2012). "What I know about women". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 22 October 2022. I listened to this as an audiobook read by the author, and laughed aloud more than once walking along. Ben Elton is a talented narrator (as well as author), bringing his characters to life with ease. It was not at all a trial to keep up with each story and voice. A perfect audio read, really. Asia Africa Intelligence Wire (2004)". Accessmylibrary.com. 17 April 2004 . Retrieved 1 November 2009.This is brash, sharp writing. Swear words abound, so look away if you're easily offended. The short snappy chapters keep the story flowing well, and the chapters are titled - love it! More books should have them. Elton sees stupid future". Star Times. Archived from the original on 30 January 2008 . Retrieved 1 November 2009. In 2005 Elton toured for the first time since 1997, touring the UK with Get a Grip. He toured Australia and New Zealand with the same show in 2006. A term with conflicting definitions on the internet, describing both a penis and vagina. Elton uses the term defined on as an acronym for Cis-Hating Ultra Trans Toby was rendered momentarily speechless. Was the minister out of his mind? Was this man seriously suggesting that political debate should return to the days of actual discussion of the issues? Was he literally raving tonto?”