BEN VAN DER VELDE
Ben has been resident host of Good Ship Comedy for the past nine years and his warm, friendly improvised hosting has become synonymous with a good night out aboard Good Ship Comedy.
He is also regular host and act for respected British comedy clubs such as The Comedy Store, Komedia, The Backyard, The Glee, Covent Garden Comedy Club, The Stand, Just the Tonic, Top Secret Comedy, Outside the Box, the Frog & Bucket and Comedy Club 4 Kids as well as hosting stages for Bestival, Festival No.6 and Sunday Papers Live. On top of that, he has taken commissions to perform a voodoo re-marriage ceremony, founded the Church of the Holy Kazoo with comedy legend Mark Thomas, walked the entire London Underground network to raise money for The Refugee Council and even took part in experiments at The Royal Society that revealed him to have the most infectious laugh of any human, rat or monkey.
CRITICAL PRAISE FOR BEN:
“Whipsharp…with an air of mischievous mayhem…his hit rate is impressive, while his in-the-moment style creates a buzz of excitement in the room…a life-giving compere.” Chortle
“The perfect comedy club host – he is a master of audience interaction. The audience weren’t just warmed up, but pretty hysterical even before the first act of the night hit the stage.” Huffington Post
“On flights of fancy, he pushes ideas to extremes and displays a crackling, spontaneous energy in which we’re swept up.” Fest