IT WAS another dream come true for Scarborough West End star Ben Ellis when he got to perform alongside one of his idols at the Royal Albert Hall.
The 20-year-old graced the stage of the historic venue as part of his national tour with singer Michael Ball.
Ben's grandmother Joan, of High Street, Burniston, said: "The Albert Hall holds 6,000 people and when he stepped out on stage Ben just th
ought: 'My God, what have we done, because he is used to playing to 1,400-seat houses. It was an absolutely amazing experience."
Mrs Ellis added: "Michael Ball was his idol and now they are like old mates – Michael and his family have really taken to him. He has met some amazing people and even though there is a lot of travelling, he loves it."
Ben, who works under the stage name of Ben-James Ellis, got his big break when he appeared in the BBC's Any Dream Will Do contest, in which he finished fourth.
He performed more than 700 shows as Link Larkin in the hit musical Hairspray and will also appear in panto when he takes the lead role in Peter Pan at the Hull New Theatre later this year.
His brother, former Scarborough Sixth Form College student Nathan, is well on the way to following in his footsteps after he scooped a three-year scholarship at the prestigious Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London.
Mrs Ellis said: "Nathan was talking to Michael Ball's wife after the show and he told her their success can all be traced back to the YMCA in Scarborough – what a brilliant advert for the YMCA."
