Benjamin Grant Mitchell

{{short description|Australian singer-songwriter, writer, and actor}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Benjamin Grant Mitchell

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1969}}

| birth_place = Sale, Greater Manchester, England

| othername = Ben Mitchell

| education = Victoria College, Melbourne

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Actor
musician
writer

}}

| years_active =

| known for = Skirts
Neighbours

| spouse =

| children =

}}

Benjamin Grant Mitchell (born 1969), generally known as Ben Mitchell, is an Australian singer-songwriter, actor, and writer, perhaps known for his roles as Bevan Quinn in the police drama Skirts and Cameron Hudson in the soap opera Neighbours. Mitchell has released four albums and written two novels.

Early life

Mitchell was born in 1969 in Sale, Greater Manchester to Australians Robert and Lynette Mitchell.{{cite magazine|last=James|first=Caron|date=18 August 1990|title=Cop this!|magazine=TV Week|pages=74–75}}{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000641/19931124/210/0019|title=There's nothing up his sleeve|last=Robinson|first=Alistair|date=24 November 1993|work=Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette|access-date=18 January 2025|via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription}} His parents came to Britain to work on the Blue Streak project, until its cancellation.{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005011/19940711/012/0012|title=Soap star set to face critics|last=Key|first=Philip|date=11 July 1994|work=Liverpool Daily Post|access-date=13 January 2025|via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription}} The family moved to Australia when Mitchell was 11 months old.{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001548/19941215/047/0047|title=Review – Cinderella at Preston Guild Hall|last=Rouse|first=Beverley|date=15 December 1994|work=Ormskirk Advertiser|access-date=5 January 2025|via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription}} The family moved from Sydney, to Melbourne, Perth and Los Angeles as Mitchell's father was a minister of religion until he decided to quit. The family stayed with friends in Sydney until Mitchell's parents found new occupations. Mitchell studied drama and dance at Victoria College.{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005106/19931124/213/0022|title=From Ramsey Street direct to King Street|date=24 November 1993|work=Shields Daily Gazette|access-date=13 January 2025|via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription}}

Career

=Acting=

Mitchell appeared in several bit parts, until he secured his "big break" in 1990, when he was cast as Bevan Quinn in the Seven Network police drama Skirts.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-backflips-on-t/162301110/|title=Backflips on the tough ones|last=Sutton|first=Candace|date=22 April 1990|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=5 January 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-introducing-skirts-the-long/162301384/|title=Introducing 'Skirts'... the long hem of the law|last=Hooks|first=Barbara|date=18 April 1990|work=The Age|access-date=5 January 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} He signed a three year contract, however, Skirts was cancelled that same year.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age/50559410/|title=Two views of a cut skirt|last=Schembri|first=Jim|date=8 November 1990|work=The Age|access-date=18 January 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} Mitchell appeared in miniseries Bony, and the 1990 feature film Father.{{cite book|last=Monroe|first=Josephine|title=The Neighbours Programme Guide|year=1994|publisher=Virgin Books|page=266}} In 1992, after appearing in a production of The Wizard of Oz at the Victoria State Opera, he joined the main cast of soap opera Neighbours as lawyer Cameron Hudson.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50246804/benjamin-changes-tune-for-soap/|title=Benjamin changes tune for soap|last=Fulton|first=Adam|date=23 March 1992|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=5 January 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} He previously had minor roles in the show as a Coffee Shop customer, and the original Brad Willis.

After his character was written out of Neighbours, Mitchell went to the UK and took over the role of Wishee Washee in Aladdin from his former co-star Jeremy Angerson.{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002240/19931023/275/0033|title=Ben shows he's a good neighbour|last=Whetstone|first=David|date=23 October 1993|work=Newcastle Journal|access-date=18 January 2025|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} He also guested in an episode of Celebrity Squares. After appearing in a play in Melbourne, Mitchell returned to the UK in 1994 to star as the Beast in a production of Beauty and Beast in Chesterfield.{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005103/19940317/369/0044|title=Ben takes on the Beast|last=Patrick|first=Lynne|date=17 March 1994|work=Derbyshire Times|access-date=18 January 2025|via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription}} He also co-hosted an episode of Ryantown,{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001730/19940212/114/0017|title=The acting, singing, dancing hunk from OZ|last=Black|first=Sharon|date=12 February 1994|work=Evening Herald|access-date=18 January 2025|via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription}} and appeared with his former Neighbours co-stars Simone Robertson and Felice Arena on children's variety show Hangar 17.{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003912/19940208/004/0004|title=Tuesday TV|date=8 February 1994|work=Heartland Evening News|access-date=21 January 2025|via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription}}

He guested as Troy Keogh in a 1996 episode of Blue Heelers, where he was credited with his full name instead of the shortened Ben Mitchell.Australian Television Net [http://www.australiantelevision.net/bh/series3.html] Retrieved 6 October 2019 In 2008, Mitchell re-joined Neighbours in the recurring role of Matt Freedman, the father of Donna Freedman (played by Margot Robbie).{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/neighbours/margot-robbie-neighbours-character-donna-explained/|title=Who did Margot Robbie play in Neighbours? Character explained|last=Knight|first=Lewis|date=26 July 2022|work=Radio Times|access-date=5 January 2025}} He appeared in the independent film Chocolate Strawberry Vanilla in 2013,{{cite web|url=https://www.nerdly.co.uk/2014/10/24/celluloid-screams-2014-chocolate-strawberry-vanilla-review/|title=Celluloid Screams 2014: 'Chocolate Strawberry Vanilla'|last=Wheat|first=Phil|date=24 October 2014|publisher=Nerdly|access-date=18 January 2025}} followed by a role in the M is for Mutant segment of anthology film ABC's of Death 2½ in 2016. Both films were directed by Stuart Simpson.[https://www.showcast.com.au/showcast/View/ViewActorProfile?actorId=87792&d=NKNKxSTwgjYM9k9xjLvnrA Showcast.] Retrieved 31 August 2019.[http://26th.abcsofdeathpart2.com/entry/m-is-for-mutant/ ABCs of Death.] Retrieved 31 August 2019.

=Music=

Mitchell was a member of the Melbourne rock band Tin Canal until they disbanded in 1993. While living in London in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Mitchell founded and performed at an open-mike session called Acoustic Trip at The Lock Tavern, Camden, at the beginning of London's "New Acoustic Movement".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/may/10/artsfeatures|title=Quiet riot|last=Phillips|first=Dom|date=10 May 2001|work=The Guardian|access-date=18 January 2025}}Everything2. [https://everything2.com/title/The+New+Acoustic+Movement]. Retrieved 23 September 2019) Acts to have appeared at Acoustic Trip included Kate Havnevik, James Blunt, Cookie, Smoke Fairies, Louis Eliot (Rialto) and Martha Tilston.

Mitchell has independently released three albums: 'The Stars Can See (2006), Chance To Love (2015) and Summer Lover (2016). Mitchell's fourth album, Slow Is The New Fast was produced by Matt Walker (Australian musician) and was released on 10 October 2019.{{cite web | publisher=AMRAP AirIt | url=https://airit.org.au/Ben-Mitchell-You-Can-t-Fight-That.html | title=Ben Mitchell - You Can't Fight That | access-date=23 November 2019}} An independent artist, Mitchell's music is licensed through Open Sea Music.[https://www.openseamusic.co/artist/ben-mitchell/ Open Sea Music]. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

In 2016, Mitchell had a Number 1 song on the Australian Music Radio Airplay ProjectMcGeoch, Rowena (28 June 2016). [https://themusicnetwork.com/amrap-chart-wrap-thigh-master-and-ben-mitchell-top-community-radio-charts/ Chart Analysis], The Music Network. Retrieved 24 August 2019) Every track from Chance To Love and Summer Lover albums have received radio play at, or soon after, release on Australian Community Radio stations.[https://cbf.org.au/learn/about/major-projects/amrap/ Community Broadcasting Foundation]. Retrieved 24 August 2019. In 2015, Mitchell was chosen as the featured Artist for 'Play Vic Week 2015' by the Community Broadcasters Association of Victoria.{{cite web|last=Gai|first= Sarah|date=12 July 2016| url=https://sarahgai.wixsite.com/indielove-magazine/single-post/2016/07/12/Introducing-SingerSongwriter-Ben-Mitchell|title=Introducing Singer/Songwriter Ben Mitchell|work= IndieLove Magazine|access-date= 29 August 2019}}{{Self-published inline|date=August 2021}}

Mitchell has performed in Australia, England, Scotland, Germany, France and The Netherlands, with appearances at Marysville Jazz & Blues Weekend, Queenscliff Music Festival, Spydafest UK, End of The Line, Maroondah Festival (Croydon), Moonee Ponds Festival and Healesville Music Festival.[https://edinburghcastle.net.au/gig-guide/2016/9/8/ben-mitchell Edinburgh Castle], 8 September 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2019[https://newcastlelive.com.au/events/ben-mitchell/ Newcastle Live], 18 November 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2019[https://www.liveguide.com.au/Tours/835906/Ben_Mitchell_at_Retreat_Hotel_Brunswick?event_id=1199280 Live Guide] Retrieved 29 August 2019[https://www.thebluestrain.com.au/artist/ben-mitchell/ The Blues Train]. Retrieved 24 August 2019.[http://www.thenewsagencyvenue.com/shows/ddlx89mc2yyrpt3z4y6z3mnccah3y4 The Newsagency]. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

==''The Stars Can See''==

Mitchell lived and worked in London from 1998 to 2004 where he wrote and recorded the songs for his debut album, The Stars Can See. The Stars Can See was released by MGM Distribution MGM Distribution and picked up by independent radio stations in Australia including 3JJJ, 3RRR and most notably PBS 106.7FM. It features Claire Worrall from Robbie Williams band on keyboards, Pete Cuthbert (Rialto) on drums, Ben Sargeant (from The Script) on bass guitar and was co-produced by Mitchell and Ken Brake at Regal Lane Studios, Primrose Hill.[https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/ben-mitchell Triple J Unearthed]. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

==''Chance To Love''==

Recorded in Healesville, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia, every song on Chance To Love (2015) received radio play across Australia, mostly from community and independent radio stations. Mitchell played all the instruments and produced the album which was released on 17 April 2015.

Mitchell's 2015 independent release, Chance To Love, featured 17 songs, each of which was played on radio stations Australia wide,[https://cbf.org.au/learn/about/major-projects/amrap/ Community Broadcasting Foundation ORG] Retrieved 21 September 2019 and in Ireland and UK. Stephen Walker from 3RRR's 'Skullcave' called Chance To Love his "favourite local release at the moment.";[https://airit.org.au/Ben-Mitchell-Chance-To-Love.html AMRAP AIRIT, 10 June 2015] Retrieved 21 September 2019 The Music's Jeff Jenkins called it "a late night gem."[https://airit.org.au/Ben-Mitchell-Chance-To-Love.html AMRAP AIRIT]. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

==''Summer Lover''==

Summer Lover was released on 21 June 2016. It was recorded in Healesville and mixed by mixed by Simon Russell[https://www.discogs.com/label/1150062-Deepswitch-Studio DISCOGS] Retrieved 21 September 2019 (whose credits include Hiatus Kaiyote, Human Face, The Melodics and Husky). It features Andy Taite on bass, Glenn Maynard (Pollyanna) on drums and Shane Reilly (Tex Perkins, Lost Ragas) on pedal steel and baritone guitar.[https://airit.org.au/Ben-Mitchell-Summer-Lover.html AMRAP AIRIT]. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

=Writing=

Starting out as a songwriter, Mitchell moved into longer form writing including blogging and novel writing.Sara Bowers, 12 September 2012 [https://sabrabowers.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/interview-with-australian-author-benjamin-grant-mitchell/] Retrieved 8 October 2019

He wrote The Last Great Day ({{ISBN|978-0-646-55032-9}}), an autobiographical novel released in April 2011.

A long-time fan of Elvis Presley, Mitchell wrote Zippin Pippin ({{ISBN| 978-0-987-38031-9}}), a comedy-romance-road-trip about Elvis Presley's unknown, illegitimate Australian son.

Filmography

=Film=

class=wikitable ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
1990	Father
2014	Chocolate Strawberry Vanilla	Tommo
2015	Baby Did a Bat Bat Thing	Evangelist	Short film
2016	ABC's of Death 2½		Anthology film, segment: "M is for Mutant"

=Television=

class=wikitable ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
1989	Neighbours	Coffee shop customer	1 episode
1989	Neighbours	Brad Willis	2 episodes
1990	Skirts	Constable Bevan Quinn	35 episodes
1992	Bony		Miniseries
1992–1993	Neighbours	Cameron Hudson	107 episodes
1990s	Ryantown	Co-host	1 episode
1990s	Hangar 17
1996	Blue Heelers	Troy Keogh	1 episode
2008	Neighbours	Matt Freedman	10 episodes

Theatre

=As actor=

class=wikitable ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
1990	Pippin		Noarlunga College Theatre, Adelaide with South Australian Youth Theatre Company
1992	The Wizard of Oz		Victoria State Opera
1993–1994	Aladdin	Wishee Washee	Sunderland Empire Theatre, UK
1994	Beauty and Beast	The Beast	Chesterfield, UK
1994–1995	Cinderella	Prince Charming	Charter Theatre, Preston, UK
2008	This is Good Advice (This is a Chair by Caryl Churchill and Advice to Iraqi Women by Martin Crimp)		Trades Hall New Ballroom, Melbourne with Welcome Stranger