★★★★★ 0/5

Ben Elton in FremantleMedia deal

UK comedian and writer Ben Elton has signed with FremantleMedia Australia to develop entertainment projects for the Australian market.

12
Leave a comment

Following on from the Irwin family signing with FremantleMedia, UK comedian and writer Ben Elton (The Young Ones, The Thin Blue Line, Blackadder and Mr. Bean) has also signed to develop and produce content for the Australian market, exploring potential projects across all entertainment genres.

FMA’s Creative Director, Jason Stephens, said, “Very rarely do you get the chance to work with someone as successful and skilled as Ben. Australians love him, and together we have the potential to create something special for Australian audiences. We’re developing some exciting concepts which we anticipate bringing to life very soon.”

Elton added “FremantleMedia Australia is recognized world wide as an exciting and innovative creative force in entertainment, I’m delighted that Jason had the sound common sense and exquisite good taste to invite me to share in their success”.

Elton, who was awarded the Special Golden Rose D’Or in Switzerland for his life time contribution to the Television Arts, is based in Fremantle, WA.

12 Responses

  1. @Dr_Rudi You created the nonsensical opposites game, and a notion that we have to come up with an alternative. But seeing as you ask, Jason Stephens has worked with many people who are more than capable of writing brilliant TV. How about Tony Martin?

  2. @KFed – er, you agreed entirely with LizzieMay. Who bemoans a 50-something British intellectual male. The opposite of this is clearly a 20-something bogan Australian woman. That’s what you’re asking for – don’t you understand? And you can’t name anyone – neither of you have suggested an alternative. Hmm, come on, the whole Australian television industry is waiting – who is it they’ve overlooked?

    That’s NumberWang, you ….

  3. @Dr Rudi The Queen musical made money because of Queen. Ben’s story was god awful. Meanwhile you want us to name a 20-something with as much experience as a 50-something? An Australian bogan woman who has had as much opportunity as a well-connected British man? Clearly never going to happen. Thanks for playing.

  4. I just want to make it clear that FremantleMedia is a UK based multinational company and has nothing to do with Fremantle in WA. IIRC, it bought out Grundy sometime in the ’90s.

  6. Oh please. You should all get over yourselves.

    @LizzieMay: He’s married to an Australian, has dual citizenship, and lives here part of the time.

    @KFed: I thought ‘Blind Faith’ was hilarious. The ‘horrible’ Queen musical made a motza – you don’t have to like it.

    Just give the guy a chance – or would you care to name some 20-something bogan Australian woman with a fantastic track record of developing popular television / musicals / books / stage shows / which appears to be your preferred alternative. Sheesh.

  7. Agreed. No track record in this country. 2010 has seen some wins for Shine and Southern Star mind you Fremantle does still have the majority of format hits at this point in time.

    Don’t forget Fremantle is a relatively insignificant in Australia for drama and you’re right, this is unlikely to help much.

  11. @LIzzie May I couldn’t have said it better myself. There is only so long this man should be able to cruise on The Young Ones and Blackadder. Has anybody read any of his dreadful recent novels? (Satires of reality shows? Genius) What about the horrible Queen musical? This is a terrible idea.

  12. FMA: Let’s do fresh, innovative projects.
    Jason Stephens: I know just the man to do it. Ben Elton.
    NOT! This news is depressing. A male, fifty-something BRITISH, out-of-date intellectual having anything to do with our tv landscape – particularly drama. Remember Stark?? And where is the evidence Australia loves him?????

Leave a Reply