Ben Jones
Ben meets the musicians and movie stars you want to hear about.
Absolute Radio 90s with Ben Jones
Join Ben from 8pm Monday to Thursday for the best of the decade.
Where did you grow up?
In Bournemouth, on the beach. I was lucky and had a great time learning to surf, power boating and wakeboarding as a teenager. Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch were amazing places to grow up.
What’s your funniest childhood memory?
I spent a lot of time as a kid in and out of hospital, and have the scars to prove it. But I remember ruining Christmas one year. We all went to the pub for a pre-dinner drink, and just as my dad went to sit down I pulled his chair away and he fell on the floor and poured his pint all over him. That bit was funny. The not so funny bit was he chipped a bone in his back and was in agony all Christmas and New Year. Needless to say I was in trouble and haven't been able to live it down yet. See I was pretty annoying even back then!!
What or who were you most scared of as a kid and why?
I used to be terrified of the Children's TV show 'The Box of Delights', even now the bearded man sends shivers down my spine!
Did you ever collect anything when you were younger?
Ok this is gonna sound weird, but as a teenager I was obsessed with the assassination of JFK, so much so that for my 16th birthday I got loads of JFK memorabilia including his autopsy photos! I am a bore when it comes to his assassination, and it would definitely be my topic on Mastermind.
Any other weird/interesting facts?
I once fell off a horse and fractured my back in three places, but I didn't know I’d fractured it for three weeks! I have three tattoos. I met my wife on a blind date. I have a really long real name, I have eaten cricket curry and once cleaned the windows of the world trade centre for a kids' TV show. I suppose I am still dead chuffed that Chris Martin sang my name three times one year at the Isle Of Wight Festival during Coldplay's set. My wife and I were really lucky when we were invited to watch the band rehearse for the Viva La Vida tour, it was just friends and family and a night we will never forget.
At what age did you first have a passion for radio? How did you get into it?
I started my career on Hospital Radio Bedside in Bournemouth, having been a fan of radio since the days of Steve Wright in the Afternoon on Radio 1. I am still to this day the only person EVER to be fired form Hospital Radio Bedside too. Long story, that involves a tin of tuna and a condom!
What was your first week at One Golden Square like? Any weird memories?
I have always been a lifelong Chris Evans fan, and was blown away when I got the call to say I was hired at OGS back in 2001. However, I was slightly miffed when my first day happened to be the day he was fired. Still a huge fan now, and got star struck recently when he replied to my tweet.