"Actor: Ben Elton"

• Much Ado About Nothing | DVD | (09/05/2018) from £8.99   |  Saving you £16.00 (177.98%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Kenneth Branagh's 1993 production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is a vigorous and imaginative work, cheerful and accessible for everyone. Largely the story of Benedick (Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson)--adversaries who come to believe each is trying to woo the other--the film veers from arched wit to ironic romps, and the two leads don't mind looking a little silly at times. But the plot is also layered with darker matters that concern the ease with which men and women fall into mutual distrust. Branagh has rounded up a mixed cast of stage vets and Hollywood stars, among the latter Denzel Washington and Michael Keaton, the latter playing a rather seedy, Beetlejuice-like version of Dogberry, king of malapropisms.--Tom Keogh

• Thin Blue Line, The - The Complete Thin Blue Line | DVD | (17/09/2001) from £17.96   |  Saving you £-7.97 (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Set in a fictitious suburb rather like, say, Pinner (only more so), The Thin Blue Line is the wickedly funny story of a rather down-at-heel police station headed by Inspector Raymond Fowler (Rowan Atkinson), a pompous, repressed but well-intentioned anachronism who wants to do the right thing but who is constantly hampered by his own shortcomings, not to mention his blundering CID colleagues. Atkinson expertly balances his character's inflated sense of self-importance with the insight born of old-school police values, for which his galumphing, shiny-suited CID counterpart, DI Grim (David Haig) has no time at all. Strongest among the supporting cast is Sgt Pauline Dawkins (Serena Evans), who also happens to be Fowler's live-in lover--a moral dilemma that his traditional values won't allow him to resolve. He salves his conscience by avoiding sex with her whenever possible, an amusing subplot enhanced by Evans's brilliant performance--she positively vibrates with contained, ladylike lust in a manner only equalled by Penelope Keith in the classic sitcom To the Manor Born. Scripted by Ben Elton, this series manages to satirise provincialism, institutionalised pig-headedness and dated moral values in one fell swoop, while also being chock-full of quick-fire, Blackadder-esque dialogue. --Roger Thomas

• Alfresco -The Complete Series | DVD | (02/02/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  In the early 1980s Granada's Alfresco gave early exposure to six young comedians who would become household names within a few years of its transmission. Having engaged Ben Elton as writer (a choice made by Rik Mayall who was originally to star) the show's producer Sandy Ross found his participants at the Edinburgh Fringe; Stephen Fry Hugh Laurie Emma Thompson Paul Shearer and Siobhan Redmond were then invited to take part in a sketch-based show that was intended to rival the BBC's Monty Python and more recently Not the Nine O'Clock News. The resulting mini-series screened only in the North-West in 1982 as There's Nothing to Worry About! was reborn a year later as Alfresco with Robbie Coltrane replacing Paul Shearer. Running for two series Alfresco was notable not only for its contributors but the originality of its format; the use of hand-held recording equipment (previously only used in news bulletins) ensured an innovative fresh feel for its many outdoor scenes. This complete set features both series of Alfresco and all three episodes of There's Nothing to Worry About!

• The Best Of Saturday Live - Series 1 | DVD | (16/04/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Many of the leading lights of screen and comedy began life with appearances on Saturday Night Live; on this fantastic compilation we bring you the very best of the first ever series with the likes of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore Elliott Gould and Chevy Chase.

• The Best Of Friday Live | DVD | (02/06/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Furthering the success of the first two series of Saturday Live a change of night led to a change of name but the programme continued to feature the same uproarious stand-up comedy for which it had rightly become famous. Hosted throughout by Ben Elton Friday Night Live featured Harry Enfield as Stavros and for the first time on television Loadsamoney the horrendous but incredibly funny iconic 80s Cockney character that propelled Enfield up to comedy superstar status. Joining Elton and Enfield in this riotous comedy show are Moray Hunter Jack Docherty Josie Lawrence Hugh Laurie Robbie Coltrane Julian Clary Lee Evans Jo Brand (in her television debut) and the immortal Dame Edna Everage!

• Ben Elton - Definitive Live Collection | DVD | (12/11/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £39.99

  Titles Comprise: 1. Live 97 2. Get A Grip 3. The Very Best Of Live 4. Very Live

• Ben Elton - Live 2007 | DVD | (12/11/2007) from £10.98   |  Saving you £11.00 (122.36%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Ben Elton the multi award winning writer performer and comic is back on stage after ten years with his new un-cut live show and time has definitely done nothing to tame him! After an 80 night tour of venues in both the UK and Australia Ben Elton - Live Get A Gripdemonstrates that he really is a king of stand up comedy! Recorded in front of a full house at Leeds City Variety Hall this is without doubt the best you will see of Ben Elton live!

• Terry Wogan: One On One | DVD | (20/09/2004) from £19.99   |  Saving you £-4.00 (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  A fascinating look back at the career of one of the nation's most prolific TV and radio presenters. Includes archive footage from 'Wogan' 'Blankety Blank' and the Eurovision events. With a loyal army of fans Terry Wogan won the 1994 Sony Radio Award for Best Breakfast Show and was awarded an honorary OBE in 1997.

• Stark | DVD | (31/07/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Whods have credited it? One minute CD (Ben Elton) is painting yellow fish on the road protesting against world pollution and trying to get laid and the next he's travelling halfway across Australia behind the lucious Rachel (Jacqueline McKenzie) on a mission he doesn't really understand or give a toss about and still trying to get laid! It's Earth sometime soon: the Greenhouse Effect has taken hold and so has the power of the Stark Corporation - a group of financial giants with mo

• Tony Bennett - An American Classic | DVD | (23/04/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £7.99

  Acclaimed director Rob Marshall re-invents the traditional variety special in this groundbreaking event with show-stopping dance numbers and breathtaking stage production. Marshall and his Academy-award-winning creative team take the viewer on an emotional musical journey re-creating seminal venues of Tony Bennett's music career from the 52nd Street Swing Club to the early Columbia recording studio from the ""rat pack"" stage in Las Vegas to the famous Carnegie Hall. Tony performs live duets of his greatest hits with the greatest artists of today. The show features special appearances by Robert De Niro Catherine Zeta-Jones John Travolta Bruce Willis and Billy Crystal! Track Listing 1. Smile - with Barbra Streisand 2. Sing You Sinners - with John Legend 3. Because of You - with K.D.Lang (featuring Chris Botti) 4. The Best Is Yet to Come - with Diana Krall 5. The Shadow of Your Smile - with Juanes 6. Rags to Riches - with Elton John 7. Just in Time - with Michael Buble 8. For Once in My Life - with Stevie Wonder 9. Steppin' Out - with Christina Aguilera 10. I Left My Heart in San Francisco

• Saturday Live - Ben Elton | DVD | (05/10/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Saturday Live: Ben Elton