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What Have I Done?

The Sunday Times bestseller and a frank, witty memoir from a British comedy icon

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What Have I Done?

By: Ben Elton
Narrated by: Ben Elton
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About this listen

Read brilliantly by the author, Ben Elton. From The Young Ones and Blackadder theme music to snippets of his stand-up comedy shows, this audiobook includes bonus audio recordings showcasing special moments throughout Ben's incredible career.


‘What Have I Done? snaps, crackles and pops with wit, bravado and glorious Ben-ness. A triumph’ – Stephen Fry

‘A big life chronicled by truly the Upstart Crow of our generation’ – Dawn French

Ben Elton has done everything and worked with everybody. Now, in this frank, forthright, and hugely entertaining book, he tells the whole story.

Discover the truth behind iconic hits like The Young Ones, Blackadder, and We Will Rock You. Relive the pioneering stand-up of Saturday Live that birthed a comedy revolution. From being the BBC’s youngest-ever sitcom writer to his most recent, critically acclaimed stand-up tour, Ben reveals unique insights into his groundbreaking work.

He talks honestly about his relationships with brilliant friends, inspiring contemporaries, and occasional foes. His life off-screen has been just as challenging and funny as it has been on, and he unpacks it all with wit, insight, and of course, a ‘little bit of politics’.

For decades, Ben’s been making people laugh, think, and getting on plenty of wicks - these are the uncensored stories.

‘Funny and fascinating, it’s a story of triumph and disaster and is the closest you’ll get to understanding where great comedy comes from’ – David Mitchell

'Bloody marvellous' – Jo Brand

 Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV Performing Arts Comedy Funny Thought-Provoking Witty Inspiring

Critic reviews

What Have I Done? is easily one of the most honest, thoughtful celebrity memoirs of the decade
This exhaustive yet never dull memoir reminds us why he remains one of the giants of British comedy over the last four decades
He has plenty of . . . superpowers. This hugely enjoyable book reminds you of all of them
What Have I Done? snaps, crackles and pops with wit, bravado and glorious Ben-ness. A triumph (Stephen Fry, actor, comedian, and bestselling author of Mythos)
Funny and fascinating, it’s a story of triumph and disaster and is the closest you’ll get to understanding where great comedy comes from (David Mitchell, comedian and bestselling author of Unruly)
Gripping, funny, breathtakingly honest and endlessly entertaining (Richard Curtis)
A gloriously dizzying ride through Ben Elton’s long and (still) very successful career, taking in the highs, the lows, the accolades and the slights. Bloody marvellous (Jo Brand, comedian and author of Born Lippy)
A big life chronicled by truly the Upstart Crow of our generation (Dawn French, actress, comedian, and author of The Twat Files)
Ben Elton is one of the greatest comedy talents of all time, ever, in any era (Marina Hyde, award-winning columnist and author of What Just Happened?!)
Tragedy, comedy and honesty make this book possibly the best autobiography you'll ever read (Brian May)
What has he done? Written a brilliant memoir, that’s all. Funny, touching, dazzling (Gyles Brandreth, broadcaster and author of Odd Boy Out)
Ben writes smooth and fast - reading this book was like being on a surfboard attached to a rollercoaster being pulled along by a dolphin (Sir Lenny Henry, award-winning comedian, actor, and author of Who Am I, Again?)
Provocative, hilarious, compassionate, dodgy politically, acerbic yet full of love, the real Ben leaps from every wonderfully written page (Andrew Lloyd Webber, award-winning composer and author of Unmasked)
As wildly honest, funny and smart as the man himself (Kenneth Branagh, award-winning actor and author of Beginning)
Ben tells his life story with the same genius wit of his legendary stand-up, hilarious novels and iconic television series (David Walliams, actor, comedian, and author of Gangsta Granny)
Uproariously serious with trenchant bursts of truth, fury and incendiary fun (Neil Kinnock)
Ben has given joy to countless millions. This is a wonderful book. Every creative young person should read it (Harry Enfield)
This is a rich helping of sheer pleasure, overflowing with wit, intelligence and phenomenal anecdotes from one of Britain’s greatest ever talents (Victoria Coren Mitchell, presenter of BBC's Only Connect and author of Richer, For Poorer)
All stars
Most relevant
A great listen - makes you reflect on human nature and the importance of friendship. Ben at his best!

Witty and observant

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This was an entertaining and often heartfelt listen. While mostly focused on Ben Elton's career, there were some touching anecdotes about family and friends. The parts about Rik Mayall were particularly emotional to hear; I cried at the part after Rik's quad bike accident when he asked "Benjy" to get onto the hospital bed and hug him. Ben speaks in such a loving way about Rik; I feel sure that he is a good person and friend. It was refreshing that he didn't seem to have any big bust-ups with close colleagues and friends, as so many 80s entertainers did and still hold onto.

I read a review that criticised this book for being too self-congratulatory. But if you can't reflect on your wins in your autobiography, when can you? He writes just as candidly about his flops and mistakes.

A highly entertaining and recommended book.

Heartfelt and honest

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Interesting and thought-provoking as you’d expect from Ben. True to his style and approach.

If you like Ben Elton you’ll love this ……..

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I never write reviews but for this book I’ll happily make an exception. I totally loved it. What a story, what a talent, what a man. A truly exceptional life, like his hero Paul McCartney, not only professionally but domestically. That’s quite ab achievement.

The story is fascinating. It never lets up.

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As a fan of Ben's in the late '80s and early '90s, I was intrigued to hear this story, and it does not disappoint. I believe I stopped reading Ben's books in the mid '90s and stopped following his career altogether when the Queen show came about (I have absolutely no interest in that band, Rod Stewart or The Bee Gees who are all acts that Ben has worked with / for).

I was amazed to hear the how much hate he received, and I'm not entirely sure why. However, he did name his autobiography in such a way that asks his critics the question, what is it exactly about him that produces so much ire? I don't know, and I don't think he knows. He does guess, but it's not like he created Mrs Brown's D'Boys or Citizen Khan.

I watched a bit of Upstart Crow after reading this, and it wasn't for me. The Thin Blue Line was OK, but not a patch on Blackadder or the Young Ones. I do feel like Ben's career peaked early on for me, and he has always been trying to recapture some of that. One of the most astonishing stories takes place in America for Dreamworks where he turns down the opportunity to make his own animated movie. I was genuinely shocked about the events around that: the people he was with, the attitudes, and his general brutal honesty about the industry. It was massively revealing.

I would absolutely recommend this book, but where Edmondson's 'Berserker' had an emotional heart, I found that Ben's was not as emotionally involving. Compulsive to listen to, and really well delivered with some great impressions, but it was missing a little something. I think consistently trying to spin some things as not that bad, was perhaps a little disingenuous given their reception. But maybe that's just his kickback against the critics that have dogged him (and praised him too!)

Regardless, it's a great 15 hours in the company of an 80's / 90's legend, and you can't go wrong with that.

Impressive and inspiring stuff from Elton Ben.

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