Ben Elton praised by viewers after savage dig at Liz Truss on Friday Night Live

Ben Elton was praised by viewers after he made a savage dig about Liz Truss on Friday Night Live. The comedian and author opened the one-off special to celebrate 40 years of Channel 4 on Friday night (October 21) – 34 years after the programme last aired.

Ms Truss announced she was stepping down as Prime Minister on Thursday (October 20). She held the role for just 44 days.

Kicking off the show, Ben began: “In these grim and difficult days there couldn’t be a better time to spread love and laughter. But while we’re doing that please spare a thought for poor Liz Truss, who resigned yesterday, thus putting a merciful end to the most pointlessly destructive, eye-wateringly expensive, ego-driven carcrash of a delusional vanity project since Simon Cowell had his face lift project!”

Read moreFriday Night Live star Ben Elton has a very famous family member

He later took another swipe at the outgoing PM, saying: “Back in the day, I used to have a go at Mrs Thatch, but credit where credits due, at least I knew she would still be in power at the end of the programme.”

It wasn’t just Truss who received a kicking from Ben though. Boris Johnson was also in his firing line.

Joking about how he hadn’t managed to get Brexit done, he joked: “Blimey, he’s dumped enough Baby Mamas in his time that you’d think he would have worked that out, wouldn’t you?!”

Viewers took to Twitter to comment about the savage jokes, with many loving the humour and calling for the show to return permanently.

@SJT_67 said: “Liz Truss has been a triumph as Ben Elton’s warm up act #FridayNightLive #FNL.” @AF_SI20 wrote: “How good is it to have Ben Elton back on Channel 4 taking down the tories? This has saddenly been missing from mainstream media for years, I think we actually had it better in the 80s!”

@msporthouse added: “Ben Elton and #fridaynightlive absolutely fantastic and already ripping into the Tory Party. Just the tonic we need.”

Others called for the show to be made a permanent fixture on Channel 4. @McGettiganIrene said: “Watching the Legendary Friday Night Live C4 can we please bring this back as with every thing going tits up we need cheering.”

@MrsC118 asked: “Bring it back permanently please @Channel4.” @Martin_BELFast echoed: “Channel 4 make this a Normal schedule fixture so funny and blast from the past.”

READ MORE:

Stay up to date with the latest celebrity and TV news with showbiz updates from our daily newsletter here . If you’re on Facebook, you can find our dedicated social media group on all things celeb here