Katy Perry serenades fan in ‘crazy’ experience
George TorrEast Midlands and
Becky MeasuresBBC Radio Derby
Ben Hatcher
Ben Hatcher was pulled on to the stage by Katy Perry during her show in Sheffield
A Katy Perry superfan got to live his out his Teenage Dream after the singer invited him on stage and serenaded him with a song about his village in Derbyshire.
Ben Hatcher, 20, from Monyash near Bakewell, was pulled out of the crowd by the star during her sell-out show at the Sheffield Utilita Arena on Friday.
The student, who danced with the megastar in front of more than 10,000 screaming fans, said the experience was “crazy”.
He told the BBC: “I don’t want to say I deserve it, but I am the biggest Katy Perry fan – it was like a full circle moment.”
The superfan said the experience was an “all-time high”
Mr Hatcher said he had been a fan of the popstar since he was six, and recalls “begging” his mum to play her CDs in the car.
He attended the concert in Sheffield with his friend Mia Lloyd and his mother Sharon, as well as two of her friends.
After being invited on to the stage, Mr Hatcher danced with the Roar and Firework star before Perry sang an off-the-cuff song about Monyash, Bakewell and Derbyshire.
“I’m sure she had no idea where it was but it was crazy that she name dropped the places,” he said.
Ben Hatcher
Mr Hatcher went to the concert with his mother Sharon and his friend Mia Lloyd
On the experience itself, Mr Hatcher said: “I think I foreshadowed it, me and my friend were screaming the entire time and she did look over a few times.
“We were just vibing and when she was choosing people to come on to the stage we were screaming and our seats were really good, we were directly in her eyesight.
“I was pointing at myself and I couldn’t believe it when she picked me, it was so surreal.”
Making most of the opportunity, he managed to get a selfie with Perry as a memento.
Supplied
Mr Hatcher posed for a selfie with the pop star on stage
Mr Hatcher, a student of Chinese and economics at SOAS University of London, said he was recognised by other fans after his appearance on stage.
“There was this one nine-year-old girl in the car who rolled down the window after the show and screamed ‘Ben you legend’,” he added.
“This has been an all-time high and my small claim to fame. People will get tired of hearing it but I won’t get bored of talking about it.”
