NEW: Five minutes with …. Ben Langley

Five minutes with…

BEN LANGLEY

We get up close and personal with Norfolk’s favourite comedian, actor, writer, producer, panto star and Britain's Got Talent sensation.

What is your favourite joke?

It’s actually a poem, by Spike Milligan.

I've never felt finer Said the King of China Sitting down to dine And then he died He died, he did It was only half past nine

Who, or what, are your comedy inspirations?

I have quite an eclectic pull when it comes to comedy. Spike Milligan and The Goons, Eddie Izzard, Buster Keaton. Norman Wisdom was a firm favourite growing up, I loved his physicality and his cute character. I did meet him at the encore awards in London in the early 2000s, but sadly he was very distant at that point. Joe Pasquale is a great inspiration and I was lucky enough not only to support him on his summer tour, but we played Holmes and Watson in my play ‘Ha Ha Holmes!’ for 68 one-nighters.

What is your favourite film and why?

Cinema Paradiso – the director’s cut. A wonderful film about hope. It’s beautiful and very moving. Hope is what fuels our journey, don’t you think? Without hope we have no purpose and with no purpose we have nothing. I think a lot of people felt this way during lockdown – so here’s to hope!

Where are your favourite places in Norfolk and Suffolk?

It’s all about family time for me, so let’s to the beach! Sea Palling is so family friendly with its golden sands, and we always have a winner of a day. My children also love Ringwood river by the Swan Pub; great for paddling, rope swings and watching fish. We recently went to The Playground outside Bury St Edmunds where there is an assault course for the whole family.

Who would play you in a film?

My son, Loxley, is nearly nine and he has these funny bones! A natural feel of an energy in a room which he has a knack of tapping into and creating a laugh. He’d play the young me and what about Taron Egerton for the rest?

Which 3 words best describe you?

My friend Paul Zerdin (winner of America’s Got Talent 2014) once described me as “funny, different, quite mad" – ok, that's four words! I would say: loving, erratic, honest.

What is your perfect weekend?

A stay in a country club/hotel overlooking the sea. Lunch would include family and friends and lots of Shiraz. Children playing, walks on the beach, festoon lights, summer flavours.

Village People has 4 pairs of tickets to give away to see The Ben Langley Show at the Fisher Theatre, Bungay, on Friday 26 August. To be in with a chance of winning, visit www.village-people.info and follow the links

to the competition page. Closing date is Friday 19 August and the usual VP rules apply.