Ben West (benwest.biz) has written on a wide variety of subjects – from travel to careers, education to tech – for newspapers and magazines including The Guardian, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, Daily Mail, Vogue, The Spectator and Reader’s Digest. He was chief property correspondent on the Daily Express and the Sunday Express until penning yet another feature on the joys of bungalow living became too much. Travel writing has taken him to more than 85 countries, including a number in Africa: his first trip to Cameroon netted him four tropical diseases. A member of the British Guild of Travel Writers, his travel books include Bradt’s Cameroon guidebook plus The Rough Guide to Family Fun in Ireland. His theatre show, Gertrude’s Secret, featuring Prunella Scales and others, toured the UK for three years. He has produced live shows for comedians, writers and musicians including Will Self and The Christians.