Ben Elton is an atheist. Elton studied at Stillness Junior School and Godalming Grammar School in Surrey, South Warwickshire College in Stratford-upon-Avon and the University of Manchester. His first television appearance was a stand-up performance on the BBC1 youth and music programme, The "Oxford Road Show". His first TV success, at 23, came as co-writer of the television sitcom, "The Young Ones", in which he occasionally appeared. In 1983/84 he wrote and appeared in Granada Television's sketch show "Alfresco", which was also notable for early appearances by Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson and Robbie Coltrane. In 1985, Elton produced his first
Joanna Lee (writer) that point as being a TV comedy writer. In her June 11, 1959 appearance on "You Bet Your Life," Joanna Lee describes her career and also wins $3,000 in prize money. Her writing career stretched from 1962 until 1990, including many dozens of episodes of comedic and dramatic television series, before writing, producing, and directing various TV movies and "Afterschool Specials." In 1973 she won an Emmy Award for Best Writing in Drama, for a 1972 Thanksgiving episode of "The Waltons". The same year, she formed her own production company, which, in 1975, produced the documentary "Babe" (also written by