BEN Elton is returning to the stage after a 13-year absence.

The multi award-winning novelist, playwright, television writer, screen writer, lyricist and ‘godfather of modern stand-up’ will be touring from late September to early November next year and that includes a Warrington show on October 19.

Altogether the mammoth tour has 53 dates up and down the UK.

More than three decades ago, Ben exploded into the national consciousness after hosting Channel 4’s groundbreaking Saturday Live.

Now the 59-year-old is making his long-awaited return to modern stand-up scene he helped to define.

Back on the road with an all new show, Ben’s show promises to try and make sense of a world which appears to have gone stark raving mad.

Ben said: “The last time I toured I was still smarter than my phone. Things have definitely taken a funny turn.”

Born in South East London and the youngest of four children, Ben went on to read drama at Manchester University.

His TV writing credits include the likes of The Young Ones with Rik Mayall and Lisa Meyer, Alfresco with Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson, three series of Blackadder with Richard Curtis and The Thin Blue Line while fact fans may also know he wrote Mr Bean’s ‘Exam’ episode.

The dad-of-three has also written a number of successful musicals including the smash hit We Will Rock You, based on the band Queen.

And Ben’s career as a author has been just as celebrated with 15 novels of which six were UK number one bestsellers.

Tickets are from £25 and are on sale on Monday. Visit pyramidparrhall.com