What Have I Done?

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What to expect

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

Critics Review

What Have I Done? is easily one of the most honest, thoughtful celebrity memoirs of the decade
The Daily Express
This exhaustive yet never dull memoir reminds us why he remains one of the giants of British comedy over the last four decades.
The Mirror
He has plenty of...superpowers. This hugely enjoyable book reminds you of all of them.
The Times
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
It’s a miracle Ben Elton managed to fit such an incredibly full life into one volume, but that’s testament to the fact that he is one of the most creative, inventive and prolific writers of the last fifty years. This book and his life are a triumph!
Between the Covers
Beautifully written and a great insight into the prolific Ben Elton’s work and life - passionate, humorous, insightful and honest. You won’t put it down
Twiggy
Funny, insightful, vulnerable ... he is in the end undeniably one of the greatest comic minds this country has ever produced.
David Baddiel

User Reviews

Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
5.0
5.0
Everything you’d expect from Ben Elton - honest, real, funny, and touching.

From a man who has shaped my viewing and reading since I was a spotty teen, this is a perfect bookend to a brilliant career.

Though hopefully it isn’t really a bookend, and he’s still got a few more ideas to share with the world, to add to my laughter lines, break my heart, and expand the lexicon of phrases we can all use down the pub.

Contrafibularities, for the book, and all of the joy you’ve given.
RabbitFishBoy 12/11/2025

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