Ben's blockbuster Christmas special
Most children enjoy sitting back with a bag full of popcorn at the cinema to watch stars of the silver screen in a Christmas blockbuster.
But for seven-year-old Ben Wilby, of Bishop Close, Cannock, his visit to the cinema will be even more special – because the talented youngster is starring in a film.
Ben, who goes to St Mary's Primary School, appears in Nativity, which is out later this month.
He will go along to the town cinema with his mother Jillian and father Nigel to watch the comedy which is set to be a massive hit.
Included in the famous cast are Love Actually and The Office star Martin Freeman, Ugly Betty and Extras actress Ashley Jensen, film and TV veteran Pam Ferris, The Royle Family's Ricky Tomlinson and comedian Alan Carr.
Ben was diagnosed with a rare birth condition called Suture Craniosynostosis which restricts skull growth and causes an abnormal head shape.
To give him confidence his mother was advised to take him to a club and at the age of four-and-a-half he went to Class One Dance Academy in Hednesford. From that day he has never looked back and has gone on to appear in a number of different adverts and is currently filming a stand-up show with Jimmy Carr.
He also attends the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School in London part time.
His proud mother Jillian said: "It is very strange because when I was giving birth I used to say to people that I thought I was going to give birth to the next Billy Elliot.
"Ben was very quiet at first and lacked confidence due to his condition. We were advised to take him to a club to build up his confidence. He went to the Class One Dance Academy and his personality changed after the first day. Since then all he has wanted to do is dance and sing and act. He just loves being on stage." Ben beat stiff competition from hundreds of children in the audition for the role of Bob - one of the children who is taking part in the Nativity at school. Ben and his mother were VIP guests at the opening of Cannock's new Electric Palace cinema in the town on Friday where they watched the film 2012.
He says he is looking forward to going back to watch himself on screen. He said: "I really enjoyed making the film – it was great fun. My mum and dad are taking me back to the cinema in Cannock next month and we are going to sit and watch it together."
Nativity comes out on November 27 and will be shown at the Cannock cinema for a week from December 11.
