On 3 December 2007 Ben performed with the cast of Hairspray at the Royal Variety Performance, held at Liverpool Empire Theatre, Liverpool, in front of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The show was screened on ITV, on 9 December. On 19 February 2008 he was a "Ready Steady Cook" contestant on BBC Two alongside his "Hairspray" co-star Leanne Jones. He won the show and donated the £100 prize to St Catherine's Hospice in his home town of Scarborough.