Ben Shires spent his youth reading books, cataloguing stamps and treading the boards in various school productions. The development of the Longcroft Performing Arts centre presented lanky-beanpole Ben with many exciting opportunities and after starring roles in Wind in The Willows, Sweeney Todd and My Fair Lady he developed a taste for the spotlight. After leaving school, Ben joined bands, recorded an E.P and made some hilariously clever YouTube videos (search ‘Sex on a Mountain’). Since then he has carved himself a career as a TV presenter, appearing in a number of shows and being recently touted as a ‘name to watch in 2011’ in the Red Pages Hot 100 list. This is how he made it…
Ben’s A-Level results saw him named one of the top five in the country for the marks he received in his Law A-Level and he sensibly decided to pursue law as a career. After completing his degree at Warwick University, Ben walked straight into employment with a London Law Firm. However, the bright lights of the entertainment industry served to remind Ben of his teenage dreams and after serious consideration he ripped off his lawyer clobber, bequiffed his barnett, stuck on a fancy bow-tie and made the jump. And like a rocket fuelled Bisto-kid, Ben floated with great force into the world of show-business.
GMTV gave Ben his first outing when he took part in a presenting competition, which saw him make it through to their top 6 contestants. Next was T4’s search for a presenter, where he made the top 2. The competitions fuelled a passion in Ben and enabled him to develop his presenting skills and gain confidence, although that is something Ben has never been short of.
“You don’t get anywhere if you don’t believe in yourself.” He says “I have always seen the positive side of every situation. When I left my career as a lawyer, I had developed a clear plan of what it was that I intended to do. I visualised my goals and then did everything in my power to put that plan into action.”
Ben’s friends and relatives use superlatives to describe him: “He’s one of the nicest, most considerate and friendliest people I have ever met in my life and he’s very tall too” would be an entirely fabricated example. But how does someone with such redeeming qualities survive in what is often referred to as an egotistical industry? “I am always grateful for everything that happens to me. Television can be a narcissistic business but I am always appreciative, friendly and approachable. It’s strange how attitudes change towards you when you’ve got a camera on you. People are lining up to do things for you but rather than being asked if I want a coffee, I’d much prefer to be told I am doing a good job.”
Ben’s affability and work ethic have seen him establish himself as an entertainer after notching up performances on E4, Channel 4’s T4, Channel Five, MTV and the BBC, as well as heading an Intel campaign for BskyB that prompted his bespectacled face to appear across the whole of the Sky network. The brilliantly entertaining Intel campaign, filmed on location in California was deservedly nominated for a Media Week Award. Ben also presented a satirical World Cup show on YouTube called ‘Wrapped Up’, which attracted well over 150,000 viewers and has interviewed many celebrities at red carpet events. Most recently Ben has been chosen as one of three top talents tipped for forthcoming shows on BBC3.
Ben’s favourite appearance so far was as roving reporter and prankster on E4’s ‘Idiot Awards’ where, alongside award winning comedian Russell Kane, Ben had to present the winning/losing celebrities with a trophy to celebrate/commiserate their idiocy. Ben says “The nature of the show was exhilarating. I had an idea of what I was going to do but it was all very spontaneous. Whilst attempting to present Russell Brand with his award, I was obstructed by the police and John McCririck chased me away from his home in his underwear”. Which all made for brilliantly entertaining television. “The adrenalin you get in this kind of work is the best part of the job. Adrenalin is the quantum leap of TV presenting, the leap that will take me home.”
What career advice would Ben offer to Beverley people with aspirations of a television career? “Primarily, you have to set yourself achievable goals and be realistic. You are your principle protagonist and you have to understand your own strengths, have a realistic approach and stay positive and focused. You must always remember that no matter how small the odds, you are in with a chance. In life you encounter various situations when you have gotten a ‘yes’, whether it be a girl who’s agreeing to a date or a successful job interview. Remember those times and believe in those achievements. As long as you are aware of your strengths, your chance is as good as anybody’s. I have always had the fundamental belief of putting a positive spin on everything and learning from every experience – good and bad- I feel that has worked for me.”
Ben currently lives in London but returns to Beverley as often as he can. “Beverley will always be home to me, my family still live there and when I’m on the train on the way back my heart leaps, like I’m going back to my roots. It’s a great place to grow up and it definitely helped shape me into the person I am today. I still enjoy a pint in the brilliant local pubs and you can’t beat a sarnie from Roberts and Speight, but I think it’s a real shame that elsewhere the town is losing its identity and becoming over commercialised.” Ben speaks on behalf of the majority of Beverley people when he says “Shop wise, it’s really gone to pot. There are countless second-hand shops and I’m slightly perplexed by the onslaught of Mountaineering shops considering Beverley is the flattest place on earth.”
So what does 2011 hold for Ben? “Each year I pitch myself some goals, for example last year I wanted an agent, I wanted TV and promo work and I achieved it all. Now I have a great agent and I’ve been presented with so many amazing opportunities. I intend to continue establishing my name as a TV performer, get more experience as a stand-up comedian. I’ve filmed a pilot for a sitcom which I co-wrote so I’m hoping that gets picked up too and I will just continue writing and working hard.”
2011 sounds like its going to be a great year for Ben, but an even better year for us Beverley folk because we get the chance to pop on our countless layers of mountain-wear, put our hiking-booted feet up and watch Beverley’s brightest hope live the dream on our second-hand tellies. Go Ben Shires, do Beverley proud, you deserve all the success in the world.
By Leigh Clark, Divine Clark PR
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