Ben Philips

Ben Philips is the official town crier of the city of Lokeren in Belgium, a role he has held with great pride for nine years. Now 64, he is a self-described bon vivant who approaches every day like unwrapping a delicious chocolate, though he is the first to admit things don't always go quite to plan.

A true man of many voices, Ben has been treading the boards as an actor for almost 50 years, with a particular speciality in playing Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus. He has also spent over 45 years performing in theatre and musicals, served as stadium announcer for Sporting Lokeren in the second division, and was the MC of the Lokerse Feesten for 15 years, a medium-sized festival where he had the privilege of introducing some remarkable names, among them Simple Minds, Tom Jones, Pink, OMD, and the Human League. As Ben himself might put it, Ben without a voice is like a pub without beer.

On the town crying circuit, Ben competes with genuine enthusiasm if not always with silverware. A place between fifth and ninth is usually his lot at the Belgian championship, and he is refreshingly honest about his chances of topping that podium. What he does bring, however, is laughter. At the championship in Rye, shouting in his own language, he had the whole crowd in stitches, and he is very much hoping to repeat the trick.

Ben is an optimistic team player who loves meeting new people and fellow town criers. He believes firmly that laughter is the best thing there is, involving 200 muscles and leaving everyone in a better mood. He cannot wait to get started.