LITTLE BADMAN, is a funny and fast-paced adventure story created by comedy duo Humza Arshad and Henry White and with illustrations from Aleksei Bitskoff. Full of mischief, silliness and with a delightful cast of characters the series is sure to appeal to fans of traditional British Asian comedy.
Humza Khan, he is the greatest eleven-year-old rapper Eggington has ever known: he is Little Badman and he is destined to be rich and famous. But when Humza’s music teacher is taken ill his dreams are put on hold. His Auntie has stepped in as substitute, and nobody seems to care about the unorthodox teaching because of the endless sweet treats. As other teachers start to disappear, with more Aunties appearing in their place, Humza knows something isn’t right. With the help of his elderly Uncle and friends Umer and Wendy, Humza discovers that the suspicious Aunties might not be as friendly as they seem. Now he must find a way to destroy them before they take over the world… “I love my aunties, but any Asian kid will tell you, a gang of aunties is a force to be reckoned with and to make them extra powerful and extra scary was a lot of fun. Exaggerating some of my childhood experiences and turning it into a kids adventure is a bit of dream.” - Humza Arshad Humza Arshad (@HumzaProduction) is one of the UK’s most popular British Asian personalities. After graduating from Richmond Drama School Arshad wrote, directed and edited an episode called Diary of a Badman. Over 90 million views of the series later, Humza became the first British YouTuber to have his own scripted comedy series on BBC Three in the mockumentary series Coconut. Equally important to Humza has been using his influence and comedy for a greater purpose. In 2015, Humza partnered with the UK Counter Terrorism Unit and he is YouTube’s first ambassador for the Creators for Change campaign. Humza has spoken and shared the stage with the likes of Will Smith, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, Kevin Hart and Whoopi Goldberg. Henry White is a comedy writer working in television and children’s fiction. He grew up in west London and began his career in online animation. Henry went on to write and direct adverts for a number of British comedy channels, before working as a sitcom writer. Aleksei Bitskoff is an Estonia-born British contemporary illustrator, character designer and children's book illustrator. LITTLE BADMAN AND THE INVASION OF THE KILLER AUNTIES will publish on 7th March 2019 in Puffin paperback, ebook and audiobook ...ends...
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·Nelson’s Column transformed into a giant set of wickets as cricket takes over Trafalgar Square to mark 100 days until the start of the tournament
·ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan, commences 100-day tour of England and Wales and will be at over 100 locations and events before arriving back in London ready for the opening match on May 30 ·Managing Director, Steve Elworthy: “The tournament is within touching distance now and it’s amazing to see the takeover of the iconic London location of Trafalgar Square to mark 100 days to go! This really puts the tournament at the front of mind for the fans both here and around the world.” London’s iconic Nelson’s Column played a central role in marking 100 days to go to the greatest ever ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. The famous monument in London’s Trafalgar Square became part of a set of giant wickets, as the countdown until the ‘world’s greatest cricket celebration’ officially began. An array of high-profile figures from the world of sport, governance, culture and entertainment – including Minister for Sport Mims Davies, Sir Alastair Cook, James Anderson OBE, Graeme Swann, Nasser Hussain OBE, Isa Guha, Rebecca Adlington OBE, Noreen Khan and two-time ICC Cricket World Cup winner Clive Lloyd CBE – were in attendance with celebrity fans Harry Judd and Chris Hughes as the 100-day Trophy Tour of England and Wales got underway. The unique celebration of cricket’s fifty over World Cup highlighted the once-in-a-generation chance for cricket fans in England and Wales to see the world’s greatest players in action on home soil this summer. On July 14 the winning captain will lift the coveted trophy, but first, fans across the country will get the chance to see it first hand as part of the Trophy Tour. The tour began its 100-day journey of the country today transported in the 100% electric Nissan LEAF – Europe’s top-selling electric vehicle (EV)*- making this tour the first ICC Trophy Tour powered by an all-electric vehicle. The Trophy Tour will comprise of over 100 events across 115 locations to ensure all fans get the opportunity to ‘get up close and personal’ with the trophy. In addition, the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will make three extra special stops, as members of the public are given the chance to nominate deserving friends and family to receive a personal visit from the trophy. More information on how to get involved can be found here. ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 Managing Director, Steve Elworthy, said: “The tournament is within touching distance now and it’s amazing to see the takeover of the iconic London location of Trafalgar Square to mark 100 days to go. This really puts the tournament at the front of mind for the fans here and around the world. “This ambitious launch demonstrates the lengths we will go to in making this tournament the most memorable ever – one that will inspire excitement among players and spectators alike around the world. “To launch the domestic leg of our Trophy Tour in such a landmark location is fantastic, and we’ll visit many more memorable places as we engage with millions of people across England and Wales in the next 100 days.” ICC Chief Executive David Richardson, added: “Years of planning goes into the delivery of an ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, but the excitement becomes real with 100 days to go and the arrival of the trophy on the shores of England and Wales. “Transforming one of London’s most famous landmarks into giant wickets is a wonderful way to kick start the celebrations for what I know will be the greatest ever celebration of cricket for hundreds of millions of fans around the world.” The Trophy Tour will be visiting every CWC19 Host City, including free to attend ‘Super Saturday’ events in Manchester (23 March), Birmingham (20 April) and Bristol (4 May), which will combine music, celebrity special guests, entertainment and a street cricket tournament involving local businesses, fan groups and the public. Former England spinner Graeme Swann was named as the Official Trophy Tour Ambassador, when talking about the 100-day tour Swann said: “I am proud to be part of a Trophy Tour that promises to deliver a glimpse of cricket’s biggest prize to fans up and down the country and really build the excitement and expectation for the tournament. “This summer promises to be hugely exciting for cricket here in England and Wales and around the world. The World Cup is at the absolute heart of the action and it all starts now with the Trophy Tour!”” ...ends... Javid climbs one place to top the annual list of the 101 most influential Asians in Britain
Home Secretary Sajid Javid MP has claimed the top spot on the GG2 Power List, the definitive list of the UK’s most powerful Asians. The annual publication, which is revealed on the night of the GG2 Leadership Awards, has been published for the last 8 years and features the UK’s 101 most recognised and influential Asians from a wide range of sectors. On topping the annual GG2 Power List, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: “It is an incredible honour to be the first Asian Home Secretary in our country’s history – and I'm immensely proud to be recognised on the GG2 Power List as the most influential Asian in the country. “I want to commend all of this year's Power List entries. They are inspirational role models who represent their communities and epitomise ethnic achievement, talent and leadership in Britain.” Javid leapfrogs Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who topped the list for the last two years. The Top 10 features a new entry in third position for Neil Basu, Assistant Commissioner of Specialist Operations for the Metropolitan Police. Basu took up this position earlier this year and is responsible for leading counter-terrorism policing nationally, widely regarded as the toughest job in British policing. Shriti Vadera, chairwoman of Santander UK, the first woman to head a major British bank remains at number six on the GG2 Power List, and activist Gina Miller, rises from 26 to tenth position this year, climbing into the Top 10 for the first time. This year’s Power List featured notable new entries from the world of entertainment including TV personality Jameela Jamil (22), comedian Romesh Ranganathan (29) and BBC presenter Anita Rani (44). They join a strong list of names from entertainment including Hollywood stars Riz Ahmed (5) and Dev Patel (34), TV veterans Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar (both 14), Ex-One Direction pop star Zayn Malik (21), Oscar winning film director Asif Kapadia (20), and Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain (38). Notable risers from last year’s Power List include Sir Rabinder Singh (4), a Court of Appeal Judge, Sir Suma Chakrabarti (17), President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and Suella Braverman MP (31), Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department for Exiting the European Union. On a glittering evening hosted by British TV and radio presenter June Sarpong at London’s Park Plaza Westminster, some of the UK’s most prominent community leaders and achievers were celebrated at the 20th GG2 Leadership Awards. The annual event reveals the GG2 Power List publication and honours some of the UK’s highest achievers from ethnic communities. Winners include Man of the Year Neil Basu, Assistant Commissioner of Specialist Operations for the Metropolitan Police, Woman of the Year award winner Professor Neena Modi, Professor of Neonatal Medicine at Imperial College London and Pride of Britain Award winner Dame Pratibha Ghai, Professor and Chair of Electron Microscopy at the University of York. There were also special Editor’s awards to recognise David Lammy MP, MP for Tottenham and Harris Bokhari OBE, founder of Patchwork Foundation. Shailesh Solanki, Executive Editor, Asian Media Group added: “This year’s winners are another exceptional group of individuals who have excelled in their relevant sectors and have become successful and inspirational role models for their communities and wider communities around the UK. The GG2 Leadership Awards now celebrating its 20th year, remains an important event which celebrates diversity in the UK, and year on year our nominees and winners have shown tremendous achievements which have made a positive impact on the country. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees of this year’s awards and to all who have established themselves in this year’s GG2 Power List.” This year’s nominees and winners come from a wide variety of backgrounds and professionals in the fields of business, politics, creative arts, media, medicine and law were once again celebrated. The GG2 Leadership Awards and the reveal of the GG2 Power List were a culmination of a day in which the GG2 Diversity Conference also took place and saw both corporate and community leaders come together to discuss the importance of diversity and representation in the UK on a variety of panels. For more information and interview requests, please contact Media Hive: Samir Ahmed | 078720199990 | samir@wearemediahive.com Home Secretary Javid also tops this year’s GG2 Power List, profiling the 101 most influential Asians in Britain
The landmark 20th anniversary GG2 Leadership Awards saw a double triumph for Sajid Javid MP. The Home Secretary was honoured with the Hammer Award, an accolade presented to a high achieving individual who has shattered the proverbial glass ceiling. The GG2 Leadership Awards showcase ethnic achievement, talent and leadership in the UK. On receiving the Hammer Award, Britain’s first Asian Home Secretary Javid said: “It is an incredible honour to be the first Asian Home Secretary in our country’s history – and I’m immensely proud to get an award in acknowledgement of breaking the glass ceiling. I want to pay tribute to all the nominees and winners. They are inspirational role models who represent their communities and epitomise ethnic achievement, talent and leadership in Britain.” Sajid Javid also topped this year’s GG2 Power List, a glossy annual publication which is revealed every year on the night of the GG2 Leadership Awards and profiles the 101 most influential Asians in Britain. On a glittering evening hosted by British TV and radio presenter June Sarpong at London’s Park Plaza Westminster, some of the UK’s most prominent community leaders and achievers were celebrated. Winners of the GG2 Leadership Awards include – Man of the Year Neil Basu, assistant commissioner of specialist operations for the Metropolitan Police, who also features as a new entry at no.3 on the GG2 Power List. Basu took up this position earlier this year and is responsible for leading counter- terrorism policing nationally, widely regarded as the toughest job in British policing. Woman of the Year award winner Professor Neena Modi, Professor of Neonatal Medicine at Imperial College London; Pride of Britain Award winner Dame Pratibha Gai, Professor and Chair of Electron Microscopy at the University of York. Established by Britain’s biggest Asian publishing house, the Asian Media Group (AMG), the GG2 Leadership Awards brought together an array of luminaries, celebrities and distinguished guests on a night of celebration and recognition. TV personalities Richard Blackwood and Hardeep Singh Kohli, chart-topping producer Naughty Boy, reality TV stars Jasmin Walia and Talulah Eve all attended the black-tie ceremony. Shailesh Solanki, Executive Editor, Asian Media Group added: “This year’s winners are an exceptional group of individuals who have excelled in their relevant sectors and have become successful and inspirational role models for their communities and wider communities around the UK. The GG2 Leadership Awards, now celebrating its 20 th year, remain an important event which celebrates diversity in the UK. Our nominees and winners have shown tremendous achievements which have made a positive impact on the country. “Sajid Javid is an incredible role model to young people all over the country and has been a fantastic Home Secretary. He is indeed a very worthy winner of our top honour, the GG2 Hammer Award. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees of this year’s awards and to all who have established themselves in this year’s GG2 Power List.” This year’s nominees and winners come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and professionals from in the fields of business, politics, creative arts, media, medicine and law were celebrated. The GG2 Leadership Awards and the reveal of the GG2 Power List were a culmination of a day in which the GG2 Diversity Conference also took place and saw both corporate and community leaders come together to discuss the importance of diversity, inclusion and representation in the UK on a variety of panels. GG2 Leadership Awards 2018 – The Full list of awards and nominees: 1. GG2 Spirit in the Community Award supported by Royal Navy Awarded to an individual or organisation for outstanding work in the community. Mouhssin Ismail, Principal, Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre 2. GG2 Young Journalist of the Year supported by The Daily Mail Awarded for outstanding work in the media. Ellena Cruse, Reporter, Ilford Recorder 3. GG2 Media & Creative Arts Award supported by Hearst Awarded for exemplary achievement in the creative industries. Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE, Artistic Director, Young Vic Theatre 4. GG2 Inspire Award supported by The British Army Presented to an individual or organisation for outstanding work in the community, which has served to inspire young people. Naheed Afzal, Co-Founder and Director, Contracts IT 5. GG2 Achievement through Adversity Awarded to an individual who has achieved a high level of success despite difficult circumstances. Muzoon Almellehan, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Dr Tirej Brimo, Junior Doctor, University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust Allan Hennessy, Frank Knox Fellow at Harvard Law School and Future Pupil Barrister at Brick Court Chambers (Joint winners) 6. GG2 Young Achiever Award supported by Royal Air Force Presented to a young person aged 35 or under who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, brings about change and who is an inspiration to communities. Dr Priyanka Joshi, Research Fellow, Downing College, University of Cambridge 7. GG2 Outstanding Achievement in Medicine supported by Newby Teas Awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of medicine. Professor Jaspal Kooner, Consultant Cardiologist and Professor of Cardiology, Northwest London NHS Trust and Imperial College London 8. GG2 Outstanding Achievement in Law Awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the legal profession. Imran Khan QC, Partner, Imran Khan & Partners 9. GG2 Pride of Britain Award supported by Sun Mark Limited Awarded to an individual for outstanding contribution to society. Dame Professor Pratibha Gai, Professor and Chair of Electron Microscopy, University of York 10. Eastern Eye Editor’s Award supported by Eastern Eye Awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to multicultural Britain. This award is presented by the editors of Eastern Eye newspaper. Harris Bokhari OBE, Founder, Patchwork Foundation 11. GG2 Editor’s Award supported by Asian Media Group Awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to multicultural Britain. This award is presented by the editors of Asian Media Group. Rt Hon David Lammy MP, MP for Tottenham 12. GG2 Woman of the Year supported by Edwardian Hotels London Awarded to an individual for consistent high achievement. Professor Neena Modi, Professor of Neonatal Medicine, Imperial College London 13. GG2 Man of the Year supported by Sun and Sand Awarded to an individual for consistent high achievement. Neil Basu, Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police Service 14. GG2 Hammer Award supported by Asian Media Group Awarded to an individual who has broken through the glass ceiling. Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, Home Secretary For more information and interview requests, please contact Media Hive: Samir Ahmed | 078720199990 | samir@wearemediahive.com Esha Jass | esha@wearemediahive.com Luxury bridal show is pleased to announce award-winning Indian designer Rohit Bal, legendary British designer Vivienne Westwood and luxury wedding department store The Wedding Gallery as part of its inaugural Asian Atelier
The countdown is on for the inaugural Bridelux Asian Atelier on the 6th-7th October, showcasing the very finest South Asian Artisans combined with prestigious bridal brands from the British and global wedding industry. The Bridelux Asian Atelier show, will for the first time see a number of prestigious designers from around the world displaying their most sought-after designs at The May Fair Hotel. Some of the participating international designers confirmed include Rohit Bal, Vivienne Westwood and The Wedding Gallery featuring Vera Wang, Oscar de La Renta, J’Aton and Reem Acra. They will be joined by British Asian stalwarts, including Khubsoorat, Ekta Solanki and Raishma. On announcing his participation, Rohit Bal said: “I am really looking forward to coming to London on the 6th & 7th of October for the first ever Bridelux Asian Atelier. I am really excited to be working with Anisha & James at Bridelux to showcase my latest bridal collection in the UK, alongside some of the most renowned international Western designers. This is an opportunity which excites me and I believe London will truly experience the first East meets West Bridal show at the elegant and refined The May Fair Hotel. I look forward to seeing you all there, book your tickets for your special one to one consultations with me!” George Hammer, Chairman of The Wedding Gallery, adds: “The Wedding Gallery is pleased to partner with Bridelux for the first Asian Atelier and present our most esteemed luxury bridal brands, which perfectly complement the needs of Asian brides and grooms. With the rise in demand to integrate Western bridal traditions with Asian culture, The Wedding Gallery is perfectly poised to accommodate couples with discerning tastes looking for designer international brands showcased within an elevated, retail store experience to make their wedding a most stylish and memorable occasion.” The event, curated to celebrate the best of South Asian fashion, is a key part of the wider Bridelux group, giving both the industry & guests no better occasion to discover South Asian experts and suppliers providing a special bespoke service for all elite Bridal couples. During the 2-day show, the Asian Atelier will showcase an exclusive catwalk showcasing the season’s newest bridal collections from award winning international designers & the UK’s most desired wedding couturists. James Lord, CEO of Bridelux said: “The Asian Atelier is a key event in our ever-growing calendar of wedding industry events. The opportunity to collaborate with the finest South Asian wedding brands and bring them together on the same platform as some of the UK’s leading mainstream brands was an opportunity we are proud to be presenting to the UK Asian audience.” The luxury Bridelux Asian Atelier will also be featuring a vast array of wedding brands, planners and suppliers to inspire and advise couples about planning their special day. Confirmed participating brands include Saran Kohli Menswear, MAC Cosmetics in collaboration with Ambreen, Pavan Henna, Red Dot Jewels and Purple Jasmine. Anisha Vasani, Commercial & Creative Director of Bridelux, adds: “We are thrilled to be celebrating our first Asian Atelier showcasing the finest South Asian Wedding Artisans, opening our shows to a wider audience of brides and grooms. The South Asian wedding industry is said to be worth around £12 billion globally and around £3 billion in the UK alone. South Asian weddings have become widely known as some of the most extravagant, luxurious and culturally rich experiences around the world. It is an ever-growing market globally and Bridelux is proud to be entering this space with its inaugural Asian Atelier event.” The first Bridelux Asian Atelier takes place on 6-7th October at The May Fair Hotel, London. Tickets are available now at www.bridelux.com For press information and interviews please contact Media Hive esha@wearemediahive.com samir@wearemediahive.com WATCH & SHARE - Magic Singh reads Aamir Khan, Sachin Tendulkar and Varun Dhawan’s minds! >> https://youtu.be/HsX_2oRnD00 British entertainer Magic Singh has been wowing Mumbai’s VIPs this week with a series of outstanding performances. Magic Singh, real name Amardeep Singh Dhanjal, performed at a private event for Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan as well as the much publicised engagement party of Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta.
During a private evening at the home of Aamir Khan, Magic Singh, one of the UK’s finest magicians, performed an array of tricks to guests such as cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and Bollywood heartthrob Varun Dhawan. Renowned for his card tricks, he blew them away with a mind-reading trick involving all 3 of them in participation. The private event followed up Magic Singh’s performance at Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta’s engagement earlier in the week. A star-studded affair, the event welcomed the who’s who of Bollywood including Shahrukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kajol, Karan Johar and Ranbir Kapoor. On returning from his Mumbai trip today, Magic Singh said: “I love my art and performing to crowds all over the world. The performances in Mumbai this week have been particularly special because I’ve been able to share my work with legends who I have personally looked up to such as Aamir Khan and Sachin Tendulkar – masters in their art. These icons have brought their magic to millions around the world over the years and it was a pleasure to dazzle them with some of my magic in return.” The latest trip to India adds to a long list of celebrities who have been thrilled by Magic Singh, including Dame Judi Dench, Craig David, Peter Andre, Simon Pegg, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and many more who have been able to experience his wondrous magic both live on stage and intimately at private functions. British entertainer Magic Singh continues his performances with a series of events in the UK this summer. For more information please visit www.magicsingh.com For press information and interviews with Magic Singh please contact samir@wearemediahive.com esha@wearemediahive.com Barnardo’s, the UK’s largest children’s charity, celebrated Eid last night (Monday 25 June) with a special dinner, to mark the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan. The meal was attended by Barnardo’s Chief Executive Javed Khan and an array of popular celebrities and media personalities from the British Asian community who took part in #FastForADay.
Participants in the campaign included British boxing champion Amir Khan, Pakistani music star Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, YouTube star Humza Arshad, Bhangra music star Juggy D, British R&B star Arjun, BBC presenter Sonali Shah, Sky News’ Ashish Joshi, BBC Asian Network’s Panjabi Hit Squad, urban music star Mumzy Stranger and presenters Anushka Arora and Natasha Asghar. Attending the Eid dinner last night were more of the campaign’s participants such as chart-topping music producer Naughty Boy, Hijabi model Mariah Idrissi, British Bhangra star H-Dhami, ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ and ‘Eastenders’ actor Ameet Chana, TV and radio presenter Suzi Mann, comedian Islah Rahman, stylist Anisha Vasani and fashion designer Saran Kohli. #FastForADay, a month-long campaign during Ramadan, was an initiative to highlight some of Barnardo’s important work with children from all communities and faith groups. The campaign saw British Asian celebrities and media personalities from all faiths participate in fasting for a day during the Islamic month of Ramadan which sees millions of British Muslims fast from dusk till sunset for a period of 30 days. Their unique experiences of fasting and Ramadan were shared on social media. Music producer Naughty Boy said: “Thank you to Barnardo’s for asking me to take part in #FastForADay. I think it’s an important initiative to create awareness about Ramadan and what the month truly means and represents, in particular charity and giving.” Actor Ameet Chana added: “I have many Muslim friends and colleagues who observe Ramadan every year and this was my first year to join them for just a day of fasting. It was definitely a challenge but also a cleansing experience, something I would look to do every year. It was a pleasure working with Barnardo’s on this great initiative and helping to raise awareness for some of the work they do amongst diverse communities across the UK.” Barnardo’s is committed to reaching out to more diverse communities. #FastForADay was part of Barnardo’s ‘Time for Family’ campaign which aims to raise awareness of Barnardo’s work within the Asian community, including support for disabled children. Barnardo’s wide range of disability support services include the Cygnet Service that works with South Asian families in Bradford providing an award-winning parenting support programme for children on the autistic spectrum, and the ‘Apna ‘Centre’ in Glasgow which supports hundreds of disabled BAME children and their families. Ramadan signifies a month of charity and giving, with British Muslims donating in the region of £100m every year, making them the single most charitable faith group in the country. The celebration of Eid (or Eid-ul-Fitr) marks the end of the month of Ramadan. Javed Khan, Chief Executive, Barnardo’s said: “I am delighted to be sharing an Eid meal to mark the end of Ramadan with some fantastic individuals from the British Asian community, from all faiths, and thank them for being a major part of Barnardo’s increased activity this month to raise awareness for some of our key projects and services for the UK’s black and minority ethnic communities. #FastForADay has highlighted commitment, dedication, faith, sacrifice and of course charity – all of which make the month of Ramadan an incredibly special time for British Muslims all over the country.” The full list of #FastForADay participants include: British boxer Amir Khan, global music star Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Sky News’ Ashish Joshi, BBC presenter Sonali Shah, chart-topping music producer Naughty Boy, British R&B star Arjun, YouTube star Humza Arshad, Hijabi model Mariah Idrissi, BBC Asian Network DJ’s Panjabi Hit Squad, Bhangra stars Juggy D and H-Dhami, Urban music star Mumzy Stranger, Sunrise Radio presenter Anushka Arora, ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ and ‘Eastenders’ actor Ameet Chana, TV and radio presenter Suzi Mann, comedian Islah Rahman, stylist Anisha Vasani, fashion designer Saran Kohli and TV presenter Natasha Asghar. For more information please contact samir@wearemediahive.com Notes to editors Last year 2017-2018 301,100 children, young people, carers and parents were supported by Barnardo’s through more than 1,000 services across the UK, such as young carers, care leavers, foster carers and adoptive parents, training and skills or parenting classes. We work to transform the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and every year we help thousands of families to build a better future. But we cannot do it without you. Visit www.barnardos.org.uk to find out how you can get involved. Registered charity No. 216250 and SC037605 Follow Barnardo’s media team on Twitter @BarnardosNews British Asian celebrities have teamed up with Barnardo’s to ‘Fast For A Day’ to help raise awareness of services that support some of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.
Fast For A Day will see some of the UK’s most popular British Asians, both Muslim and non-Muslim, sharing the experience of fasting on social media over Ramadan which starts this week. Stars taking part include Bhangra singer Juggy D, ‘Bend it like Beckham’ actor Ameet Chana, R&B singer Arjun, Punjabi singer Tasha Tah, TV presenter Suzi Mann and radio presenter Anushka Arora. Barnardo’s is committed to reaching out to more diverse communities. #FastForADay is part of Barnardo’s ‘Time for Family’ campaign which aims to raise awareness of Barnardo’s work within the Asian community, including support for disabled children. Barnardo’s wide range of disability support services include the Cygnet Service that works with South Asian families in Bradford providing an award-winning parenting support programme for children on the autistic spectrum, and the ‘Apna ‘Centre’ in Glasgow which supports hundreds of disabled BAME children and their families. Fast For A Day will showcase the commitment and dedication that the UK’s Muslim community observe during Ramadan as well as their strong focus on charity and giving in this holy month. British Muslims in the UK give over £100M to charity during Ramadan alone and they are the most generous religious group in the UK (ICM poll). Barnardo’s Chief Executive, Javed Khan said: “Fast For A Day will showcase what the month of Ramadan means for hundreds of thousands of families, households and individuals throughout the UK this month. It’s fantastic to see popular British Asians of all faiths come together to support Barnardo’s during Ramadan and our Time For Family campaign.” Non-Muslim members of the Asian community are being invited to fast and also share their experiences online. Actor Ameet Chana said: “Ramadan is a unique month and a special time for British Muslims all over the country. I have many Muslim friends and colleagues and am delighted to be able to share a small fraction of Ramadan with them by participating in Fast For A Day...for Barnardo’s." Singer Juggy D adds: "I feel Fast For A Day will help make the understanding of Ramadan’s core values and principles accessible to all communities and faith groups around the UK, whilst raising awareness for the great work that Barnardo’s is doing within the Muslim community and beyond.” For more information on Barnardo’s Time For Family campaign please visit https://www.barnardos.org.uk/support-families Ends For press information and interviews please contact Samir Ahmed, samir@mediahiveworld.com 07872019990 BANA AL-ABED, SRIDEVI, BTS, JAHANGIR KHAN AND ANITA RANI AMONG THE WINNERS AT THE 8TH ASIAN AWARDS27/4/2018 Bana Al-Abed - The 8 year old Syrian girl who captured the world’s attention documenting the Syrian crisis honoured in London with the Rising Star Award Bollywood Icon Sridevi celebrated and honoured with posthumous Cinema Award K-Pop boy-band stars BTS honoured with Outstanding Achievement in Music Award World’s greatest Squash player Jahangir Khan honoured with Outstanding Achievement in Sport Award British TV star Anita Rani honoured with Outstanding Achievement in Television Award The Asian Awards returned for it’s 8th edition on Friday 27th April 2018 and once again honoured some of the world’s most outstanding and highest achieving individuals. The Asian Awards is a pioneering event that has quickly evolved into the most prestigious global acknowledgement of pan-Asian success across all walks of life, emphasising inspiring accomplishments and highlighting international role models in the fields of business, sport, entertainment, philanthropy and popular arts & culture.
This year The Asian Awards in partnership with Payswiff honoured Bana al-Abed with the Rising Star Award. When eight-year old Bana al-Abed took to Twitter to describe the horrors she and her family were experiencing in war-torn Syria, her heartrending messages touched the world and gave a voice to millions of children. Bana has since become known globally for her work to create awareness and direct attention towards the problems in her home, and earlier this year was invited to the Oscars to stand in support of children in war. On collecting her award, Bana Al-Abed said: “It is my pleasure to be here with all of you tonight. I am happy that the voice of the Syrian children is being heard. This award is for all the children who lived in war. A child should have the right to live and grow up in peace and a child should have the right to education. I want to thank The Asian Awards for giving me this honour.” Paul Sagoo, Founder of The Asian Awards, said: “The Asian Awards is an event which honours exceptional individuals who have captured the attention of the world. Bana al-Abed is a perfect example of exactly that and at only 8 years old she has bravely shared her perspective on one of the biggest humanitarian crises in history. I am so glad that she accepted our invitation to attend this year’s Asian Awards and collect the Rising Star Award in recognition of her resilience, unconquerable courage, and hope for herself and for other children around the world who are victims and refugees of war.” The 8th Asian Awards paid tribute and honoured legendary Bollywood actress Sridevi, who’s passing earlier this year was a tragic loss to Indian cinema. The timeless actress, who is regarded as one of India’s most iconic stars rose to worldwide fame in the 80’s with several starring roles in films such as Himmatwala, Jaani Dost, Ghar Sansar, Mr India and many more. Winner of the prestigious Padma Shri and voted India’s Greatest Actress in 100 years in a national centenary poll in 2013, Sridevi receives the posthumous honour of Outstanding Achievement in Cinema at this year’s Asian Awards. Paul Sagoo, Founder of The Asian Awards adds: “Sridevi was a remarkable figure in the Indian cinema industry. An icon on-screen, she was the greatest actress of her time in a golden generation for Indian cinema. Her untimely passing earlier this year reminded the world of her talent and sheer brilliance in her art and highlighted her iconic status. We are honoured to pay tribute to Sridevi and celebrate her astonishing career at the 8th Asian Awards.” Award-winning British TV star Anita Rani picked up the Outstanding Achievement in Television and on collecting gave an impassioned speech about her ground-breaking broadcasting career thus far and representation in the media industry, closing: “Thank you to The Asian Awards, I’m going to use this to break more glass ceilings.” Other winners on the night included legendary Pakistani squash player Jahangir Khan, Entrepreneur of the Year Sunny Varkey and Ramesh and Pratibha Sachdev who were awarded Philanthropist of the Year. Pratibha Gai picked up the Science and Technology Award for her pioneering work in electron microscopes, whilst Arundhati Bhattacharya, the first woman to chair the State Bank Of India, won Business Leader of the Year and Nepalese District Police Chief SP Kiran Bajracharya was honoured with the Public Servant of the Year Award. Finally Korean boy-band BTS, the K-Pop phenomenon who have conquered the globe in recent months and have a huge fan following worldwide, were awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Music Award. The Asian Awards was founded in 2010 to celebrate the outstanding achievements and excellence of pan-Asians across the globe. This year’s event is hosted once again by comic genius, and winner of the 2015 Outstanding Achievement in Television award, Sanjeev Bhaskar. The Asian Awards will partner with UK based charity One Family for the 2nd consecutive year. The event will be attended by the who’s who of politicians, dignitaries, celebrities, industrialists and influencers from across all sectors. Previous winners include, Bruce Lee, Zayn Malik, Shah Rukh Khan, AR Rahman, Sachin Tendulkar, Jack Ma, Dr Amar Bose, Sir David Tang, Freddie Mercury, Kunal Nayyar and the late Ahmed Kathrada. The Asian Awards in partnership with Payswiff was held on Friday 27th April at the London Hilton on Park Lane. Ends www.theasianawards.com Instagram: TheAsianAwards Twitter: @TheAsianAwards #TheAsianAwards For further press information and media accreditation requests, please contact: Samir Ahmed samir@mediahiveworld.com 07872 019 990 Rifco Theatre Company and Watford Palace Theatre present the British Asian Festival 2018 from 4th – 6th May 2018 at the Watford Palace Theatre. The festival includes Pinky & Preetho’s Comedy Night, a rehearsed performance of ‘Southall Park; fun bhangra sessions for children aged 2 – 6 years; craft workshops an afternoon Desi Tea; a screening of Hinglish Vinglish and performances of bittersweet comedy Pyar Actually by Rifco Associate Sukh Ojla, spoken word sessions with The Asian Writer and exhibitions by artists Mr A Singh and Dotty Art.
British Asian Festival Schedule Friday, 4th May 2018 @8.30pm Comedy: Pinky & Preetho’s Comedy Night Tickets: £15 & £18 (Multi-event ticket discount available) Masala Queens Pinky (Vedi Roy) and Preetho (Harvey Dhadda) return to Watford to host a night of comedy with a brilliant line-up of British Asian stand-up comedians including Sukh Ojla, Sunil Patel, Kai Samra, Ahir Shah and Sindhu Vee. Friday 4th May @7pm Southall Park Tickets: £7.50 A rehearsed performance of a coming of age drama by Rifco Associate Amarjit Bassan. Saturday 5th May 2018 @ 11am & 1.30pm Bhangra Tots Tickets: £10 Fun Bhangra sessions for children aged 2 – 6 years old with Sohan Kailey of Aashiyana Arts. Saturday 5th May 2018 1pm & 1.30pm, Drop-in from 2pm Family Crafts: The Make Escape Tickets: £4 Filmi craft workshop with tutors Momtaz Begum-Hossain and Mia Vilcins from The Make Escape. Saturday 5th May 2018 @6pm Spoken Word: With Apples & Snakes Tickets: _Pay What You Can Performance poetry and spoken word company, Apples and Snakes presents an evening full of creativity with acclaimed and emerging British Asian talent. Hosted by Shagufta Iqbal and Sophia Thakur, there will be performances from Nafeesa Ahmed, Zia Ahmed, Ronak Patani, BananaSharma and Zahra Sheik. Saturday 5th May 2018 4.30pm & 8pm Theatre: Pyar Actually Tickets: £14.50 (Multi-event discount available) Due to popular demand, Sukh Ojla’s comedy about love and missed opportunities returns to Watford! Polly’s picture perfect life is interrupted when her first love Bali gets in touch 20 years later. Why is he back? Is it too late for second chances? And is love, actually, all you need? Sunday 6th May 2018 11am Literature: Short Stories with The Asian Writer Tickets: Pay What You Can Past finalists of The Asian Writer short story prize, Meera Betab, Mona Dash, Farhana Khalique, Shibani Lal and Jocelyn Watson, will be reading their winning stories and sharing their creative process. Sunday 6th May 2018 12pm & 1.15pm Food: Desi Tea Tickets: £21 per person Enjoy a unique afternoon tea experience at Watford Palace Theatre, surrounded by British Asian arts and culture with Desi Tea. They will be serving a delicious selection of sandwiches, cakes, scones, South Asian snacks and tea. Sunday 6th May 2018 2.30pm Film: English Vinglish Tickets: £8 (Multi-event discount available) In honour of Bollywood actress Sridevi. This light-hearted yet touching film follows the transformational journey of Shashi, as personal circumstances make her determined to overcome her insecurities, master English and become a self assured and confident woman. 4th May – 6th May 2018, 10am – 8pm Exhibition: Mr A Singh Free event Award-winning creative director, artist and content creator MrASingh (aka Amrit Singh) will be displaying two collections of intricate mixed media art. 4th May – 6th May 2018, 10am – 8pm Exhibition: Dotty Art Free event Harrow based artist Karun Soni will be exhibiting a selection of dotty art style oil paintings. Rifco presents the British Asian Festival Friday 4th May – Sunday 6th May 2018 Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1JZ Nearest Stations: Watford Junction Station (National Rail) is a 20 minute journey from London Euston via West Midlands Trains. Watford High Street Station (Overground) is a 12 minute walk. Watford Station (Metropolitan line) is a 20 minute walk. Public Car Parks: Sutton, Church or Gade. Ticket DiscountsDiscounts are available for Pinky & Preetho’s Comedy Night, Pyar Actually and English Vinglish. Book 2 events and receive £2 off total. Book 3 events receive £3 off total. Discount applied to total at checkout. Limited to 4 tickets per event, per customer. For more information about the British Asian Festival, visit www.rifcotheatre.com |