My town: Ben James-Ellis

What do you like best about your town?

I love Scarborough. Growing up here, I think you can take it for granted. Since living in London, I have grown to appreciate the town and love coming back to escape the city and to enjoy the peaceful, relaxed way of life. Scarborough is such a beautiful place, the gorgeous scenery and busy town create a perfect mix, making me very proud to call it home.

What would be your perfect day?

A long lie in, a walk on the beach with my dog Milo and my grandma’s Sunday roast with the family. .

Do you have a favourite walk or view?

Unknown to many, I’m big on history. I love walking through the old town, looking at all the original buildings, walking past St Mary’s church, by the castle and down the cobble streets to the harbour.

If you had to name a hidden gem in your town, what would it be?

For me, a huge part of growing up in Scarborough was attending the YMCA where I learnt life skills that set me up for the real world and of course my career on the stage. The YMCA is such an amazing place, giving so many children the facilities to learn and grow as people. I know the YMCA gets huge support, but for me, it could have so much more.

Do you have a favourite pub or restaurant?

Asking me to pick a favourite place to eat is unfair... there are so many. But if I’m forced, I have two. The Kam Sang in North Marine road. The food there has always been consistently brilliant. And the Copper Horse in Seamer, owned by a good friend of mine, Nick Thomas who also owns Qdos Entertainment. The food is the best of British and the walls are plastered with old pantomime posters which make for a fun atmosphere.

What do you think makes Scarborough special?

Scarborough has a bit of everything. An amazing seafront, busy town and exciting nightlife. It would be very hard to be bored here.

Do you have a favourite shop in the area?

I can’t pick a shop to single out as my favourite, as when it comes to shopping I’m a typical bloke; I see it, I buy it. But I do enjoy walking round the Brunswick Shopping Centre for a few reasons: the amount of shops to look in, the friendly atmosphere and the ability to peer over the balcony and be nosey.

If you were hosting a dinner party, which three other guests would you invite from your town and why?

Me? The host of a dinner party? Well, I’ll have to just imagine this one. I would invite Charlotte Brontë, Sir Alan Ayckbourn and Robert Palmer. That would be an interesting conversation of memories of Scarborough.

What is your pet hate about the town?

Sun, sea and sand doesn’t come around that often. Especially in the summer.

What are your priorities?

I’m lucky enough to do the job I dreamed of, being on stage never gets boring. Being able to entertain people and take them away from everyday life for that few hours is so special.

What would your ideal holiday be?

Growing up, me and my family went to Disney World, Florida. The scale of everything there is overwhelming and just thinking about it now makes me excited. I would love to go there tomorrow and I know I’d never get bored.

What was the book/film/play/concert/CD you have most enjoyed recently?

I’m a huge film fan, and try to see everything. I was reluctant to see The King’s Speech as I wasn’t really aware of the story of the Duke of York. But due to the rave reviews I went. It’s one the best films I’ve seen in a long time.

Who or what makes you laugh?

A good friend is Brendan Sheerin from Channel 4’s Coach Trip. We met about six years ago when I was working at the Scarborough Spa and he was my manager. We often meet in London and I always leave in pain from laughing.

How would you sum yourself up in a single sentence?

I’m very hard working, committed, driven and very grateful of how lucky I am to do the job I love.

What is your favourite charity?

St Catherine’s Hospice in Scarborough. I often go there to meet the staff and patients, and the level of care they provide is amazing. I was lucky enough to take part in a celebrity version of Ready, Steady... Cook which I won and gave the money to the hospice. And more impressive than anything else is most of the staff are volunteers.