STUDIOCANAL and Working Title Films today confirm that cross-cultural British rom-com WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? will receive its World Premiere at the 47th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. The film will screen as a Gala Presentation at the Roy Thomson Hall on Saturday, 10th September. 

Directed by Shekhar Kapur (ELIZABETH) and written by Jemima Khan, WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? stars the Primetime Emmy® Award nominated Lily James (PAM & TOMMY, BABY DRIVER, DARKEST HOUR, MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN, REBECCA), Shazad Latif (STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, PENNY DREADFUL, PROFILE, TOAST OF LONDON), Shabana Azmi (HALO, FIRE, RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST, IT’S A WONDERFUL AFTERLIFE, CITY OF JOY, MADAME SOUSATZKA), Sajal Aly (YAKEEN KA SAFAR, MOM, ALIF) and Academy Award® and BAFTA winner Emma Thompson (MATILDA, GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE, CRUELLA, SAVING MR BANKS). The film also stars Asim Chaudhry (BLACK MIRROR: BANDERSNATCH, PEOPLE JUST DO NOTHING, THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN, THE SANDMAN), Jeff Mirza (ETERNALS, BLINDED BY THE LIGHT), Mim Shaikh (FINDING DAD, INFORMER, PLS LIKE, KING GARY), Iman Boujelouah, Mariam Haque (FINDING ALICE, HOMELAND, FLOWERS) and Sindhu Vee (MATILDA, STARSTRUCK, FEEL GOOD).

The film is produced by Nicky Kentish Barnes (ABOUT TIME, ABOUT A BOY), Jemima Khan (IMPEACHMENT: AMERICAN CRIME STORY, THE CLINTON AFFAIR, THE CASE AGAINST ADNAN SYED, WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS) & her Instinct Productions, alongside Working Title Films’ Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.

Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award-winning and Mercury Prize nominated composer, Nitin Sawhney CBE has created the music for the film, with British-Pakistani record producer, DJ, songwriter, and musician Naughty Boy bringing his production and writing skills to the soundtrack, alongside three-time BRIT Award and Mercury Prize nominee, Joy Crookes. Kanika Kapoor and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will also feature on the soundtrack, with Rahat appearing in the film itself.
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STUDIOCANAL is fully financing and will release in their own territories – the UK, France, Germany, Australia & New Zealand – and are selling the film worldwide. 

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? is set to be released in UK cinemas on January 27th 2023.

Synopsis

How do you find lasting love in today’s world? For documentary-maker and dating app addict Zoe (Lily James), swiping right has only delivered an endless stream of Mr Wrongs, to her eccentric mother Cath’s (Emma Thompson) dismay. For Zoe’s childhood friend and neighbour Kaz (Shazad Latif), the answer is to follow his parents’ example and opt for an arranged (or “assisted”) marriage to a bright and beautiful bride from Pakistan. As Zoe films his hopeful journey from London to Lahore to marry a stranger, chosen by his parents, she begins to wonder if she might have something to learn from a profoundly different approach to finding love.
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​Publishing 9th June 2022
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Hiya! Alison Hammond here! I love getting to know all about different people and I'll tell you a secret ... Sometimes people we don't know much about are the most interesting of all! Which is really what this book is all about.

Let me ask you a question: How many Black people can you name from our history? Mary Seacole? Ira Aldridge? George Bridgetower? Pablo Fanque? Walter Tull? Have you heard of these people?

Yes? That's great! But if you haven't, don't worry, you're not alone, which is why I'm so excited to tell you all about them. Because the people in this book should be totally famous given the AMAZING things they've done! And we're not going to stop in the past, I'll introduce you to people making waves right here and now!

From sportspeople to scientists, activists to musicians, politicians to writers, we're going to meet a whole bunch of AWESOME people who have helped shape the world we live in. So, are you ready for a journey Black in time?? Course you are, let's go!

Join Alison Hammond on a journey throughout history as she delves into the lives of influential Black British figures with the help of Emma Norry. Through an informative and entertaining combination of fact files, narrative stories and interviews, Alison explores their impact on our society to show young readers how Black History is British history.

Featuring people from the world of science, sports, the arts, politics and more, readers will meet a host of exciting Black Britons – all who have done incredible things yet remain largely unknown. The book also features interviews with Black Britons of today, with the likes of Nicola Adams and Malorie Blackman sharing views on Black British history and what we can learn from it.

About Alison Hammond


Known for her quick wit, outrageous presenting style and infectious laugh, Alison Hammond has been a much-loved fixture on British television for two decades. She joined This Morning in 2002 and has since secured some of the most watched - and loved - celebrity interviews ever. She's tap- danced with Renée Zellweger, rapped with Will Smith, jammed with Russell Crowe, and been serenaded by Hugh Jackman.

In 2021, she became one of This Morning's main hosts, alongside Dermot O'Leary, and appeared on a new BBC Saturday-night primetime entertainment show, I Can See Your Voice, alongside fellow judges Amanda Holden and Jimmy Carr, and host Paddy McGuinness.

From her rise to fame on Channel 4's Big Brother in 2002, to her appearances on I'm a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here!, Strictly
Come Dancing and Celebrity Great British Bake Off, Alison's warmth, honesty and joy have made her one of the most popular presenters on TV today.

Moved by the murder of George Floyd and the rise of #BLM protests around the world, Alison used her platform on This Morning to speak openly about her experiences of racism and marginalisation of Black people in the UK. She then went on to present Alison Hammond: Back to School, a primetime documentary on ITV exploring important Black British figures who have been ignored by history curriculum in the UK.

About Emma Norry:

Emma Norry is an author who writes fiction and non-fiction for children. She is passionate about equal representation and diversity. Her first book, Son of the Circus, is part of a series that shows readers that Black and brown people have always been a part of British history. Son of the Circus, set in Victorian times, blended fact and fiction by using Pablo Fanque (the first Black circus owner) and his son Ted as inspiration. Emma has also written Amber Undercover - a fun action-adventure spy story for ages 10+. She has many short stories in anthologies: Happy Here, The Place for Me: Stories from the Windrush and The Very Merry Murder Club. Emma’s non-fiction includes biographies of Lionel Messi and Nelson Mandela. A two-book middle-grade fantasy series launches in 2023.

 'We need to create a home to return to. And when I say home, I'm not talking about a physical place or somewhere where pants are optional. I'm talking about a set of beliefs after a day full of, well, anything. We need to dig a foundation so deep that it will exist and thrive even if our surface-level efforts fail.'

Ever wondered what the point of all those school maths lessons about triangles was? Youtuber and comedian Lilly Singh has finally discovered the answer: triangles are the perfect model for building your self-esteem and getting to know your own values. Triangles have a strong base, they're hard to knock-over and always retain their own shape, even when they grow.


With her incomparable sense of humour and fun, Lilly explains how she has put the ethos of the triangle to work in her own life, and shows how you can do the same. Complete with playful illustrations and inspiring ideas, this book is like a best friend cheering you on as you find your purpose and get to know yourself.


Lilly Singh is a YouTuber, comedian and the author of How to Be a Bawse and Be a Triangle. In 2019, she was named one of Forbes' '40 most powerful people in comedy' and one of Vogue India's 'Women of the Year'. From 2019-2021, she was the host of A Little Late with Lilly Singh, making her the first person of Indian descent to host a American major broadcast network late-night talk show. She has received an MTV Fandom Award, four Streamy Awards, two Teen Choice Awards, and a People’s Choice Award. Lilly remains a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, advocating for children’s rights.
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World renowned and much-loved Pakistani actor Mahira Khan has been appointed as the British Asian Trust’s latest Ambassador to support their work across South Asia.
  
With almost 90% of people in need of mental health treatment having no access to any kind of support, Mahira is supporting the British Asian Trust’s current Peace of Mind campaign which aims to raise awareness of mental health issues and needs in both Pakistan and Bangladesh.
 
Mahira is providing the keynote address at the Trust’s Iftar event on 14 April 2022 at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London with guests including celebrities, business leaders and philanthropists. 
 
The Trust plans to scale up its already successful work to build even more awareness, reach more people and provide more access to community-based healthcare, referrals and support. Marginalised children who have suffered severe trauma will be a priority. 
 
Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive of the British Asian Trust, said: “We are delighted to have Mahira Khan, one of Pakistan’s greatest superstars, join us as an Ambassador. Mahira’s voice will be incredibly powerful in helping us to lift the silence on mental health and improve access to services in Pakistan and Bangladesh. The need in both countries is great and we’re already having an impact on changing lives, we can’t do this work alone.”
 
Mahira Khan said: “I am proud to be an Ambassador for the British Asian Trust and support their work in South Asia. Their mental health work in Pakistan has been ground-breaking, reaching millions of people but there is more to do. 
 
“Untreated mental health issues can have a devastating impact on individuals, families, lives and relationships. Talking more about mental health, breaking the stigma around it and helping more people access support so they can have peace of mind is critical. No one should ever have to suffer in silence.”
 
One in four people in Pakistan will experience mental health issues, but a lack of services means there is only one psychiatrist per half million people, compared to one for every 10,000 people in the UK.  Stigma associated with mental health also prevents people from seeking help, with the subject still taboo in many communities. 
 
In Bangladesh, suicide is the leading cause of death among Bangladeshi adolescents. Women and girls, especially those in rural communities, are particularly vulnerable. Most Bangladeshis have no access to mental health services, and they encounter stigma and social exclusion. 
 
Without appropriate support, mental health conditions can significantly worsen a person’s wellbeing and their ability to maintain relationships, forcing them to become isolated and alone. They can also lead to alcohol and drug dependency, hospitalisation, severe depression and even suicide. 
 
In Pakistan, the Trust’s pioneering work in mental health has already reached 28 million people via SMS campaigns and social media activity. Over 46,000 people have attended mental health awareness raising sessions in their communities and been screened for mental health issues. Training has also been provided to 2,000 frontline health practitioners in basic mental health awareness.
 
In Bangladesh, the Trust is working with leading mental health organisations to develop community-based services available to all through tele and online services, as well as tackling stigma in the workplace and communities and encouraging those in need to seek support.

Indian Home Cooking to Nourish Your Soul...

“There is something universal about food memories – they linger somewhere hidden in your soul. Just as the sounds of raindrops, the lyrics of a song, or the feel of a fabric can transport you to another world, so with food. The memories flood back. They take you home.”
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Asma Khan’s new book, Ammu is a delicious collection of childhood recipes that celebrates the power of home cooking and the inextricable link between food and love. Asma is a firm believer in the healing power of food. Like many of us, for the last two years she has been unable to go home to see her family, thousands of miles away in India. She began to turn more often to the food of her childhood, her Ammu’s cooking, and through this she found comfort and felt connected to loved ones far away. 
​
In Ammu, Asma shares the dishes that have nourished her life and family, with over 100 recipes to bring warmth and joy to your kitchen, whatever the occasion. From the simple comfort food of her childhood in Calcutta, including Ammu’s Chicken Biryani, and Sikandari Raan, a spiced leg of lamb her Ammu fed her before her wedding day, to Chapatis and Ma’s Prawns, dishes she craved and learned to cook when she first moved to the UK and was uprooted from her family. There are recipes for special occasions - Nine Jewel Korma and Zarda – traditional recipes passed through generations of Asma’s Rajput and Bengali families with long, rich histories and slow-cooking methods to match; and the quick recipes Asma cooks every day, now she is Ammu, Buttermilk Chicken Pakoras and Bhuna Niramish which combine seasonal British ingredients and the flavours of home. 

This book is not only a celebration of the food Asma loves to cook but of the woman who nurtured her and taught her to cook. Throughout the book Asma shares personal memories and reflections on her life in food and of her Ammu.
  
"In this book, I celebrate a woman who was fiercely independent in her thinking, a woman ahead of her time, who managed to gently shake the patriarchy and was unafraid to be different from those around her, becoming a female founder of a food business. Ammu’s footprints are too big for me to match them, but I am following her path and using food to celebrate my family’s culinary heritage and culture. I also use food to change the narrative of how women cooks are perceived at home and in restaurant kitchens."

Asma Khan is the chef and owner of Darjeeling Express. She moved to Cambridge from Calcutta in 1991. Now residing in London with her husband and two boys, she comes from a royal background – Rajput on her father’s side and Bengali on her mother’s. After studying law, Asma went on to do a PhD in British Constitutional Law at King's College London.

Cooking was always her passion and she began her food career in 2012 as a supper club in her home. In 2015, she opened a pop-up in a Soho pub to much acclaim, and Darjeeling Express the restaurant opened its doors in June 2017. A year later, her debut cookbook Asma’s Indian Kitchen was published. The book was the winner in the U.K. category for food publishing in Indian cuisine at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.
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Asma is the first British chef to feature in Netflix's Emmy nominated Chef's Table. Her episode also received a 2020 James Beard Award nomination. Business Insider named her number 1 on their list of "100 Coolest People in Food and Drink", and The Evening Standard listed her in The Progress 1000 as one of London’s most influential people 2019. She has been included in the eighth edition of the GG2 Power List – profiling Britain’s 101 most influential Asians and she is now the first chef to be featured on Vogue's list of 25 most influential women of the year for 2020.
In 2021 Asma was shortlisted by GQ Food & Drink Awards in the Veuve Clicquot Innovator category.

‘Rich and powerful’
- O, The Oprah Magazine


Beasts of Prey is the highly acclaimed debut from exciting new talent Ayana Gray who is taking the world, and TikTok, by storm. Spotlighted as one to watch in The New York Times, United by Pop, Bustle, Buzzfeed and POPSUGAR, it has been heralded by critics as ‘the next big thing in YA Fantasy’. Beasts of Prey has secured the coveted title of a New York Times bestseller and is soon to be adapted as a major film by Netflix.

An extraordinary adventure inspired by Pan-African mythology and the first in a standout new fantasy trilogy weaving monsters, mythos and magic in one unforgettable adventure.

In the broken city of Lkossa sixteen-year-old Koffi, a beast-keeper in a magical zoo, is kept against her will desperately seeking freedom.

Ekon, son of a decorated hero, is a warrior in training desperately seeking honour.

One night their paths cross in an unexpected way and they find themselves in the Greater Jungle, a world steeped in wild magic and untold dangers, the tentative alliance between them is tested to the extreme.

The hunt begins - but are they the hunters or the hunted?

Beasts of Prey will be published under the Penguin imprint.

Ayana Gray is a lover of all things monsters and magic. Originally an Atlanta native, she now lives in sunny Florida where she writes fantastical stories, follows Formula One racing, and worries over her adopted baby rhino, Apollo.

TikTok  @ayanagray 
Twitter @AyanaGray 
Instagram @ayanagray_ ​

‘I am a bad mother, but I am learning to be good.’
​
‘(An) intense, unputdownable debut that will doubtless spark conversation about what makes a good or bad mother.’ Oprah Daily
 
Frida Liu is a struggling mother. She remembers taking Harriet from her cot and changing her nappy.
She remembers giving her a morning bottle. They'd been up since four am.
 
Frida just had to finish the article in front of her. But she'd left a file on her desk at work. What would happen if she retrieved it and came back in an hour? She was so sure it would be okay. Now, the state has decided that Frida is not fit to care for her daughter. That she must be re-trained. Soon, mothers everywhere will be re-educated. Will their mistakes cost them everything?
 
Acquired at a major auction this is a searing page-turner that is also a transgressive novel of ideas about the perils of “perfect” upper-middle class parenting; the violence enacted upon women by   both the state and, at times, one another; the systems that separate families; and the boundlessness    of love, The School for Good Mothers introduces, in Frida, an everywoman for the ages. Using dark wit to explore the pains and joys of the deepest ties that bind us, Chan has written a modern literary classic. For fans of Margaret Atwood and Kiley Reid’s Such A Fun Age.
 
Jessamine Chan holds an MFA from Columbia University, where she was awarded a teaching fellowship. Her short fiction has appeared in Tin House and Epoch. Her work has also received support from Bread Loaf, the Wurlitzer Foundation, Jentel, the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center, the Anderson Center, VCCA, and Ragdale. Prior to moving to Philadelphia, where she lives with her husband and daughter, she worked as a nonfiction reviews editor at Publishers Weekly.
 
Hollywood star Jessica Chastain has optioned The School for Good Mothers through her production company Freckle Films and will be adapting it for the small screen alongside Taiwanese-born American director and writer Jude Weng (Blackish, The Good Place and Young Sheldon)

Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution announced that Disney and Pixar’s “Turning Red” will premiere exclusively in homes worldwide on Disney+ on Friday, March 11.​

“Disney+ subscribers around the world enthusiastically embraced Pixar’s Academy Award-winning ‘Soul’ and the critically-acclaimed “Luca” when they premiered exclusively on the service and we look forward to bringing them Pixar’s next incredible feature film ‘Turning Red’,” said Kareem Daniel, Chairman, Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution. “Given the delayed box office recovery, particularly for family films, flexibility remains at the core of our distribution decisions as we prioritize delivering the unparalleled content of The Walt Disney Company to audiences around the world.”
Disney and Pixar’s “Turning Red” introduces Mei Lee (voice of Rosalie Chiang), a confident, dorky 13-year-old torn between staying her mother’s dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. Her protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming (voice of Sandra Oh), is never far from her daughter—an unfortunate reality for the teenager. And as if changes to her interests, relationships and body weren’t enough, whenever she gets too excited (which is practically ALWAYS), she “poofs” into a giant red panda! Directed by Academy Award® winner Domee Shi (Pixar short “Bao”) and produced by Lindsey Collins “Turning Red'' releases on March 11, 2022.

In international markets where Disney+ is not yet available, the film will be released theatrically, with premiere dates to be announced.
 

London, Paris, Thursday December 9th 2021 - STUDIOCANAL and Working Title Films today release a first look image from cross-cultural British rom-com WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?, directed by Shekhar Kapur (ELIZABETH) and written by Jemima Khan.
 
Set to release in cinemas worldwide 2022, WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? stars Lily James (BABY DRIVER, DARKEST HOUR, MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN, REBECCA), Shazad Latif (STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, PENNY DREADFUL, THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL), Emma Thompson (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, BRIDGET JONES’S BABY, SAVING MR BANKS), Sajal Aly(ZINDAGI KITNI HASEEN HAY, MOM), Shabana Azmi (ARTH, KHANDHAR, PAAR, GODMOTHER), Asim Chaudhry (BLACK MIRROR: BANDERSNATCH, PEOPLE JUST DO NOTHING, THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN), Mim Shaikh (FREEHOLD, INFORMER) Jeff Mirza (ETERNALS, BLINDED BY THE LIGHT), Iman Boujelouah, Mariam Haque (FINDING ALICE, HOMELAND, FLOWERS) and Sindhu Vee (STARSTRUCK, FEEL GOOD).

 
British-Pakistani record producer, DJ, songwriter, and musician Naughty Boy will bring his production and writing skills to the film, collaborating on new, original, recordings. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has also recorded two songs for the soundtrack and will appear in the film itself.
 
The film is produced by Jemima Khan (THE CLINTON AFFAIR, THE CASE AGAINST ADNAN SYED, WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS) & her Instinct Productions with producer Nicky Kentish Barnes (ABOUT TIME, ABOUT A BOY) alongside Working Title Films’ Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan.
 
How do you find lasting love in today’s world? For documentary filmmaker Zoe (Lily James), swiping right to find Mr Right has only delivered bad dates and funny anecdotes, much to her opinionated mother Cath’s (Emma Thompson) dismay. For her childhood friend and neighbour Kazim (Shazad Latif), the answer is to follow his parents’ example and opt for an assisted marriage with a bright and beautiful bride from Pakistan. As Zoe films his hopeful journey from London to Lahore to marry a stranger, chosen by his parents, she begins to wonder if she might have something to learn from a different approach to finding love.
 
STUDIOCANAL is fully financing and will release in their own territories – the UK, France, Germany, Australia & New Zealand – and are selling the film worldwide. 
 
WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? is set to be released in UK cinemas in 2022.
​

‘THE BEST MEMOIR I’VE EVER READ… it’s so honest and packed with so many wonderful life lessons and aha moments’
 - Oprah Winfrey



The brave, inspiring and wildly entertaining memoir full of self-help lessons for readers, from one of the world's most charismatic and
 much-loved actors
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​One of the most dynamic and globally recognized entertainment forces of our time opens up fully about his life, in a brave and inspiring book that traces his learning curve to a place where outer success, inner happiness, and human connection are aligned. Along the way, Will tells the story in full of one of the most amazing rides through the worlds of music and film that anyone has ever had.

Will Smith's transformation from a fearful child in a tense West Philadelphia home to one of the biggest rap stars of his era and then one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood history, with a string of box office successes that will likely never be broken, is an epic tale of inner transformation and outer triumph, and Will tells it astonishingly well. But it's only half the story.
 
Will Smith thought, with good reason, that he had won at life: not only was his own success unparalleled, his whole family was at the pinnacle of the entertainment world. Only they didn't see it that way: they felt more like star performers in his circus, a seven-days-a-week job they hadn't signed up for. It turned out Will Smith's education wasn't nearly over.
 
This memoir is the product of a profound journey of self-knowledge, a reckoning with all that your will can get you and all that it can leave behind. Written with the help of Mark Manson, author of the multi-million-copy bestseller The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Will is the story of how one exceptional man mastered his own emotions, written in a way that can help everyone else do the same. Few of us will know the pressure of performing on the world's biggest stages for the highest of stakes, but we can all understand that the fuel that works for one stage of our journey might have to be changed if we want to make it all the way home. The combination of genuine wisdom of universal value and a life story that is preposterously entertaining, even astonishing, puts Will the book, like its author, in a category by itself.



FURTHER PRAISE FOR WILL 

‘If you read one book this year make sure it’s WILL…The gift of therapy, coaching and comedy ALL in one place. It will make you cry, it will make you laugh and it will make you change the way you think about life. If you want to transform your mindset and be entertained in the process this book will be a phenomenal guide. Read it, discuss it, dissect it. It’s going to change lives’ Jay Shetty
 

‘Buy And Read Dis Dope Book’ Spike Lee
 
‘A wild ride’ New York Times
 
‘Will Smith isn’t holding back in his bravely inspiring new memoir…Will provides a humane glimpse of the man behind the actor, producer and musician, as her bares all his insecurities and trauma’ USA Today
 
‘Raw, comedic, inspirational’ GQ


"Brilliant and bonkers in equal measure." Daily Telegraph

A celebratory collection of iconic British figures chosen by Stormzy and the #Merky Books team, featuring Mo Gilligan, Candice Carty-Williams, Ian Wright, Jourdan Dunn, Riz Ahmed, Dina Asher-Smith and more

In a fully illustrated, comic book style children’s book, performance poet Sophia Thakur has profiled over fifty modern day heroes from across the worlds of art, activism, sport, food, science and more. Each individual has harnessed their unique talent, passion and skill and turned it into their own superhero power, such as:
 
·         Princess K, who went from tapping her foot under the desk at school, to dancing centre stage at Glastonbury;
·         Dina Asher-Smith, who started out crawling at lightning speed and became the fastest British woman in history;
·         Reggie Yates, who used his power of empathy to connect instantly both in person and through the TV;
·         Riz Ahmed, whose ability to code-switch between cultures and creative outlets let him excel as a scholar, actor, activist and rapper;
·         Liam Charles, who followed his childhood passion in the kitchen to become a Bake Off master.

Both entertaining and empowering, Superheroes will showcase the importance of positive representation in children’s books and inspire the next generation to follow and achieve their dreams.

8% of the proceeds for Superheroes will be donated to the #Merky Foundation.

Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff is an award-winning journalist, editor, features writer, columnist. She is currently a Senior Staff Editor at the New York Times and was formerly editor-in-chief of gal-dem weekend editor and writer at Dazed. She is the editor of Mother Country: Real Stories of the Windrush Children, longlisted for the 2019 Jhalak Prize. 


Timi Sotire is a freelance journalist and editor, whose work is focused on music and culture. With bylines in The Guardian, gal-dem, NME and others, she's written profiles on upcoming artists like Bree Runway and Tiana Major9, as well the industry greats Jazmine Sullivan and Dua Lipa. ​

Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. The film also stars Tony Leung as Wenwu, Awkwafina as Shang-Chi’s friend Katy and Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan, as well as Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, Florian Munteanu and Ronny Chieng. 
 
“Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and produced by Kevin Feige and Jonathan Schwartz, with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and Charles Newirth serving as executive producers. David Callaham & Destin Daniel Cretton & Andrew Lanham wrote the screenplay for the film, which opens in cinemas on September 3, 2021. 

Please watch and share this special Eid message - https://youtu.be/E9luuLQYrFo

Bringing together a host of popular personalities from TV, Film, Cricket and Media, to encourage the community to spend Eid at home. Featuring actor Adil Ray, Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Begum, actress Armeena Khan, TV presenters Mehreen Baig and Konnie Huq, BBC Asian Network's Noreen Khan and Mobeen Azhar, ITV's Rageh Omaar, Pakistan cricket legends Azhar Mahmood and Saqlain Mushtaq, Citizen Khan's Abdullah Afzal and Pride of Britain winner Moin Younis.

To download the video for broadcast and social media please click here

Actor & Broadcaster Adil Ray, one of the organisers of the video said: "Seeing some of the news footage on our screens, it may be tempting for many of us to congregate at each other's homes or in parks this Eid. However, if we all did that we would have a serious problem. In the true spirit of Ramadan and Eid, we are encouraging our friends and families to continue to think of others and stay at home"

The special video featured as part of BBC News' national Eid coverage

Some of the UK's leading British Muslim social media stars have teamed up with Tower Hamlets Homes to share an important message for young Muslims to spend #EidAtHome this year. Watch and share the video - https://youtu.be/Hp4ibe_NqaA

Featuring a host of popular names including Mistah Islah, Super Saf, Smash Bengali, Aatif Nawaz, Mumzy Stranger, Nish, Ikram Abdi, Nadia Ali, Ezzakins, Ramzan Miah, Fatiha Rouf, Zoha Rahman and more

Youtube star and actor Mistah Islah says: "A lot of content creators and influencers have young people that look up to them and take their advice, so I gathered as many of my fellow creatives as I could to deliver this message with me to encourage everyone to stay home for Eid, be safe and protect those nearest and dearest to them. This Eid will be different for many but we want to wish everyone a joyous occasion and Eid Mubarak."

To download the video for broadcast and social media please click here

• In partnership with Deliveroo, Uber Eats, BT and Cobra Beer, the British Asian Trust is launching ‘The Big Curry Night In’ to bring the UK together with the nation’s favourite dish
• People are encouraged to take part bymaking their own curry, using celebrity chef recipes, ordering a takeaway or purchasing a ready meal
• The campaign will support the struggling UK restaurant and takeaway industry in the wake of the national health crisis and encourage the public to order from their local eateries 
• Celebrities will be promoting the Big Curry Night In with competitions for people to share their Big Curry Night In with them virtually
• Donations made during the Big Curry Night In will help support the British Asian Trust COVID-19 Emergency Appeal which was launched by HRH The Prince of Wales 

​The British Asian Trust, in partnership with Deliveroo, Uber Eats, BT and Cobra Beer has launched a nationwide fundraising campaign bringing the nation together under lockdown to support those most in need across South Asia, as well as rejuvenate the UK’s local takeaway businesses.

The Big Curry Night In, taking place from 22nd– 31stMay, will be encouraging the general public toorder a curry from their local restaurant or prepare their own curry at home in celebration of the nation’s favourite take away meal. Households can share their meal virtually with loved ones and friends in other households via video calling and social media. The initiative will help support the UK’s restaurant industry during the national health crisis as well as raise vital funds for families struggling in South Asia.

Click here for full press release

Please watch and share a new Coronavirus advice message to the British Asian community as a follow up to the previous videos. Featuring a new set of faces who are all lending their support and voices to ensure that British Asian communities in the UK are kept well informed of the current public health guidelines.

The new video features Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain, comedian Paul Chowdhry, musician Nitin Sawhney, actresses Parminder Nagra and Archie Panjabi, cricketers Wasim Akram and Ravi Bopara and presenters Mehreen Baig and Sonali Shah amongst others. (Full list below)

“This awful virus impacts us all. I just felt that I had to do something. I really hope we can make a small difference and help everyone in these challenging times.” says Nadiya Hussain, Chef & Presenter.

Please view and share the latest video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRvUmjCfYVc

Well known Muslim celebrities and influencers have come together to front a new Coronavirus advice video around Ramadan. The video features several prominent British personalities such as Riz Ahmed, Mehdi Hasan, Konnie Huq, Naughty Boy, Mehreen Baig, Tez Ilyas and Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London. 

The #RamadanAtHome campaign, in conjunction with the Mayor of London, encourages British Muslims to adhere to the government guidelines whilst observing Ramadan this year. The key messages are to stay at home, pray from home and to break fast, share Iftar at home in order to protect our NHS and save lives.

The video features:
Riz Ahmed, Award winning Actor, singer and songwriter
Mehreen Baig, TV Presenter
Raja Bahdwhal, Firefighter
Mehdi Hasan, Journalist
Asad Ahmad, BBC News reader
Nesrine Dally, Thai Boxer
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
Islah Abdur-Rahman, Actor and screen writer
Humza Arshad, YouTube Ambassador
Naughty Boy, Music Producer and Songwriter
Tez Ilyas, Comedian
Haytham Tamim, Imam
Dr Naveed Ahmed, GP
Konnie Huq, TV Presenter
Myriam Francois, Journalist
Tanya Muneera Williams, Poet
Mohammed Mohammed, Poet
Mariah Idrissi, Model
Naz Shah, MP
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Peer
Asma Khan, TV Chef
Nadir Nadhi, Social Media Influencer
Dr Asma Hussain
Rakin Fetuga, Imam
Imam Mohammed Mahmoud, Hero Imam from Finsbury Park
Hussain Manawer, Poet, song and screen writer

The video also includes several front line staff from the NHS, London Met and the London Ambulance Service.

The video has featured on several news channels as part of Ramadan coverage, including ITV News with comedian Tez Ilyas a guest on the programme

Celebrities including Sanjeev Bhaskar, Meera Syal, Anita Rani, Shahid Afridi, Gurinder Chadha and Naughty Boy have teamed up to film a new coronavirus advice video aimed at reaching the British Asian community, following the disproportionate impact of the virus across all BAME communities in the UK. Recent reports and statistics have shown a higher % of people from ethnic minority backgrounds have contracted the virus and are losing their lives to the global pandemic.

Adil Ray, Actor & Broadcaster and one of the organisers of the video said "We all felt that we had to do something during these unprecedented times. It is evident that some of the advice and messages are not getting to some communities when they need it most. We hope that we can make even just a small difference."

A report by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre on the first 3,883 critically ill coronavirus patients found that more than a third were non-white (33.6 per cent), whilst BAME groups form just 18 per cent of the UK population.

Please view and share the video here: 
https://youtu.be/2cvzGw2VWPA

The health advice given in the video was developed in conjunction with Public Health England advice and Dr Sam Everington, Chair of Tower Hamlets CCG.

The video features:
Nitin Ganatra, Actor
Sanjeev Bhaskar OBE, Actor
Meera Syal CBE, Actress
Ameet Chana, Actor & Director
Adil Ray OBE, Actor, Writer, Broadcaster
Saira Khan, Actress & Businesswoman
Shivani Ghai, Actress
Naughty Boy, Music Producer
Abdullah Afzal, Actor
Ranvir Singh, Broadcaster
Gurinder Chadha OBE, Director
Jassa Alhuwalia, Actor, Writer & Filmmaker
Shahid Afridi, Cricketer
Nina Wadia, Actress
Anoushka Shankar, Musician
Bhavna Limbachia, Actress
Shin, Singer
Anita Rani, Presenter

The campaign is also supported by the following celebrities, who will feature in future videos:
Konnie Huq, Presenter
Mehwish Hayat, Actress
Hardeep Singh Kohli, Broadcaster
Krupa Pattani. Actress
Shobu Kapoor, Actress
Sonali Shah, Presenter
Wasim Akram, Cricketer
Wasim Khan MBE. CEO, Pakistan Cricket Board
Adil Rashid, Cricketer,
Archie Panjabi, Actress
Parminder Nagra, Actress
Nikki Bedi, Broadcaster
Nikesh Shukla, Writer
Satnam Rana, Broadcaster
Nitin Sawhney CBE, Musician and Composer.
Lisa Aziz, Broadcaster
Channi Singh, Singer, Producer, Music Director

The video was covered on ITV News at 10, Metro and other major media outlets.

For more information please contact samir@wearemediahive.com

England cricket star Jofra Archer took home the Sporting Equals Sportsman of the Year award at the glittering award show hosted by Sir Lenny Henry, at Hilton Park Lane Hotel, London on Saturday 14th March.
 
Jofra Archer was named the Sporting Equals Sportsman of the Year 2020 at the coveted Sporting Equals BEDSAs. After being pivotal to England’s Cricket World Cup victory and having overcome so many obstacles to enter into the elite level of the game it was a truly well-deserved accolade.

On his award Jofra said: "I'm so honoured to have been awarded Sporting Equals Sportsman of the Year, with the world cup victory in cricket I feel equality and diversity in sport is the only way forward. The work Sporting Equals has done and continues to do for diversity and equality is truly amazing, a great organisation and I'm really grateful to be part of that legacy." 

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The Metropolitan Police has joined in collaboration with Streatham born Internet sensation, author and comedian Humza Arshad to visit London schools, engaging students to raise awareness of the effects that can be exploited and used to draw vulnerable people towards acts of violence.

Police Officers from the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command’s Local Operations team, together with Humza, will visit 16 schools across eight London boroughs to present and engage with pupils, aged 14 - 18 years’ old.

The presentations outline a hard-hitting and thought provoking 12-minute film titled “HATE”. The film was developed in collaboration with Humza, the Metropolitan Police, and partners in YouTube with the final cut having been directed by, and starring Humza, who is known for his ‘Diary of a Badman’ series.

“HATE” aims to address the themes of intolerance, gang violence, knife crime, acid attacks, gun crime and radicalisation and extremism in all its forms. Encompassing a broad spectrum of violent crimes and the consequences that come with it, currently affecting our communities.

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​​All proceeds from Bhasha Mukherjee’s clothes will empower women to be prepared when faced with cyclones, flooding and other disasters.
 
Dr Bhasha Mukherjee, the first south Asian woman to be crowned Miss England, has donated the “Ellie Wilde” dress she wore for her entry photo to the Miss World pageant in December, as well as a number of other items, in support of women in one the most disaster-prone places on earth.

The sleeveless designer gown has a plunging V-neck, sheer bodice with lace appliques and stone accents and is expected to raise a considerable amount at auction.

All money raised from the sale of women’s clothes and accessories donated to British Red Cross charity shops before 31 March will go towards the It starts with her campaign, a UK-government backed drive to help women in slum communities in Barishal, Bangladesh.
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The women there battle poverty, violence and extreme weather but are fighting back with the help of British Red Cross programmes that help them to build their own and others’ livelihoods.
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Bhasha, 23, who is also a junior doctor, said: “For me, donating this dress is very special. The dress is from Ellie Wilde and it was one of the dresses that I wore on the cover of India’s Health Magazine, and that was a very empowering moment for me.

Click here for full press release