This old letter shows that Ben Elton’s been in the dark about Stewart Lee for a quarter of a century
Ben Elton is making a return to stand-up, after a break of 15 years, and in an interview with the Guardian the highly successful comedian and writer briefly referenced an old Stewart Lee comment accusing Elton of being outdated, with the words “Stewart Lee, whoever he is”. We have to assume it’s a joke, but it seems it’s one he’s made before – almost 25 years before.
There was an exchange in Time Out, ages ago. Lee said 'Ben Elton still does stuff about the chocolate machines not working on the Tube'. Elton wrote in to challenge it. This was 1995.
— Justin Lewis (@WhenIsBirths) September 26, 2019
Here’s Elton’s letter: pic.twitter.com/6oUoNJ8fnD
— Steve Hall (@astevehall) September 26, 2019
Here’s a closer look at that letter.
We can’t comment on the scoops and snoops thing, but the chocolate machines remark seems to have hit a nerve. Another writer and comedian, Natt Tapley, found the recurring theme a little awkward.
Cringed a little at Ben Elton's "Who even is Stewart Lee?" interview in The Guardian this morning, until someone pointed this out. It turns out he's been not-knowing-who-Stewart-Lee is for 25 years now, so at least he's well-practised… https://t.co/C0jeslhG2Q
— Nathaniel Tapley (@Natt) September 26, 2019
"Stewart Lee made fun of me for telling out-of-date jokes! This 24-year old zinger will show him! Again!"
— Nathaniel Tapley (@Natt) September 26, 2019
It seems Ben Elton has been doubling down on the joke, if that’s what it is, in other forums.
He also claimed he'd never heard of him in a recent interview for James O'Brien's podcast. I found it highly implausible that Elton would never have heard of one of the most influential comedy writers and performers of the last 25 years. Was a good interview despite that though.
— Mark "Collapsible Truncheon" Thompson (@MarkReckons) September 26, 2019
We can’t help feeling that taking a joke to, and beyond, its reasonable limits is an approach of which Stewart Lee would thoroughly approve.