ONE of Britain's finest comedy writers is on his way to Blackpool in his first tour for almost four years.

Ben Elton, the star who co-wrote such hits as The Young Ones and three series of Blackadder, will be in town next month with his stand-up comedy show.

Ben told the Citizen: "I am very lucky right now - I get to choose what I want to do and when.

"I had been sitting in front of my computer, writing stuff and sending it to the publisher for most of last year, so I decided the time was right for me to start performing again.

"I don't really prefer either performing or writing - it's all part of the same thing, as I write everything I perform.

"It involves so much work to write new material for two hours of stand-up comedy, there's no way I could do a tour every year."

Ben feels his performances are better now with improved timing and believes he is easier to listen to.

"I am loving it all now I've done 40 shows of the tour and know people are enjoying it.

"But when I've finished in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the British part of the tour, I'll be happy to be sit in front of my computer again with a mug of coffee!"

Ben Elton appears at Blackpool Opera House on March 7 and Citizen readers could win a pair of tickets to see him by answering the following question on a postcard with your name, address and telephone number by February 24.

Question: Who played Lord Blackadder in the award-winning series co-written by Ben Elton?

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