THE man described as the ‘godfather of modern stand-up’ is set to return to Southend for a stop on his tour next year.

Ben Elton’s new live show ‘Authentic Stupidity’ will take in 54 dates across UK and Ireland including Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion.

A 2019 critically acclaimed tour saw Ben sell out venues across the UK following a return to stand up after a 15-year hiatus.

A spokesman for the comedian said: “The world has changed a lot since Ben last toured five years ago - a whole new existential threat has emerged to challenge our very existence: Artificial Intelligence.

“Apparently, it’s going to render all human life meaningless, but Ben is here to warn you that AI is not the greatest threat that we face; it’s Authentic Stupidity.”

Ben added: “We need signs to tell us to step off escalators, we elect gibbering fools to lead us and now we’ve invented Artificial Intelligence which is actually going to replace us.

“I’ve spent 45 years in comedy exploring the outer limits of human idiocy and my mission has never been more timely. Forget AI, It’s AS we need to be worrying about.”

Ben will perform in Southend on October 14, 2024.

For more information and tickets visit benelton.live/.