Benson Phillips became interested in showbusiness while working as an usher at the Polka Children's Theatre in Wimbledon, London, and began his career as an entertainer by busking and performing at children's parties.[1] He subsequently went on to work for Pontins as a Bluecoat, and a Children's Uncle for Haven Holidays.[2] While working at Haven, a talent scout saw him perform, and he was invited by BBC Manchester to audition for Play School.[2] His audition was successful, but the show was pulled out of production shortly after he signed the contract; however, it was recommissioned as Playbus (later renamed to Playdays), which ran for nine years.[2]
In 1991, he began presenting Get Your Own Back,[2] which was shown on BBC One (and later CBBC) between 1991 and 2003, and was a game show consisting of one child contestant and an adult (such as a relative or teacher) who, in the child's eyes, had done something unreasonable, and for which the child wanted revenge. In 1999, the show was nominated for a BAFTA.[3] From 1996 to 1998, he presented Wake Up in the Wild Room on ITV.[2]
In 2013, Benson Phillips made a guest appearance in Sooty.[citation needed] He plays himself in a mockumentary webseries called Getting Back with Dave Benson Phillips, which began in 2017.[6][7] The series was invited to showcase at MCM Comic Con London[8] and the cast includes Pat Sharp and Ewen MacIntosh.[9] The series and spin off In Production[10] are available to watch on YouTube.[11] He has most recently been seen working as a professional wrestler, after having also done so whilst working as a blue coat at Pontins.[12]
Death hoax and other online attacks
In 2009, Benson Phillips was the victim of a hoax which claimed that he had died in a car crash.[13] There were other false rumours that he was presenting on a soft porn TV sex line, and that he was no longer being hired because he had suffered a nervous breakdown.[13] In 2017, he spoke with the Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on an inquiry into fake news.[14]
