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
George Burditt (writer) 11, 1957. Burditt moved from Cleveland to Los Angeles to become a television writer. All together with his writing partner Paul Wayne and other writing crew, they earned Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Series: "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" in 1972 and 1974, and "Van Dyke and Company" in 1977, a variety show starring Dick Van Dyke. Burditt and Wayne co-wrote mainly the first three seasons (1977–79) of the television series "Three's Company", and Burditt served as an executive producer of the series in 1981–84. Both together co-wrote one episode of "All in