Social media phenomenon Ben Phillips has made a Scots girl’s wish come true by teaming up to prank his long-suffering “bro” Elliot Giles.
The 24-year-old from Bridgend in Wales has racked up three billion views on Facebook, subjecting Elliot to an endless stream of pranks. The pair are about to go on a UK tour with two dates in Scotland.
But before this, the Make-A-Wish Foundation asked him to make Millie's wish.
Mille, 15, from Aberlour, Banffshire, has biliary atresia – a rare disease of the liver. Her illness means she feels tired all the time and can’t be too active.
She has to spend lots of time in hospital and she discovered Ben’s YouTube channel when a friend sent her a link to a prank to cheer her up.
Ben said: “She wanted to help me prank Poor Elliot so of course I wanted to make her wish a reality and jumped at the chance
“It was a great day and brilliant to meet Millie. She’s an amazing girl, a real inspiration. We all had a lot of fun driving Elliot around Bridgend superglued to a toilet on the back of a 4x4.”
This 23-year-old from Wales has 8.4 million followers ... - Daily Record
Ben asked Millie about her illness at the start of the prank and later on in the video asked fans to get involved and follow Millie on Instagram, resulting in her gaining thousands of followers.
Millie said: “I thought it was amazing, I felt happy the whole day. It was a bit overwhelming. I went from 200 Instagram followers to over 28,000 in that one day.
"They were funny and made me feel like a normal teenager having lots of fun.”
Millie added that all her friends have seen the prank and noticed she is more confident since then.
For Ben, giving Millie a day she’ll never forget is becoming part and parcel of his new found fame.
While anyone over 30 probably hasn’t heard of him, he is a huge internet star, has moved into TV with a show on Comedy Central UK, Ben Phillips Blows Up, and now a tour.
Ben added: “We’re right in the middle of prepping for the upcoming tour that kicks off this September and we’re really excited to be bringing it to Edinburgh and Glasgow .
“It’s going to be great to get to Scotland again. The crowds were amazing at the Edinburgh date last year. I’ve invited Millie to the Glasgow date as she wasn’t well enough to come last year.
“I do appreciate being in the fortunate position I am in within the social media world.
“I do feel it’s only right to use it to help and influence the great work charities do where I can.
“ Make-A-Wish Foundation are a great example, they do so many great things for lots of people.”
Ben Phillips Live Tour is at The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, on September 29 and Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow on September 30. Tickets benphillips.com or livenation.co.uk
