Idris Elba unveils Mobo paving stone at college where he ‘got to dream bigger'
His stone forms part of the Paving The Way award, issued by the Mobo organisation, which supports talent in music, film and TV and holds an annual awards ceremony celebrating excellence in black music and culture.
Idris Elba is joined by Kanya King during a visit to Barking and Dagenham College, London, which he used to attend, to lay a commemorative MOBO 'Paving the Way' stone (Lucy North/PA)
The award celebrates cultural pioneers who have made a lasting impact in the arts, with Olympian Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and comedian Sir Lenny Henry among the recipients.
The award winners are asked to choose a location for the stone that holds a deep personal meaning, with Elba choosing the college where he studied performing arts.
The event, which included a Q&A with the students, took place inside the college's Idris Elba Studio — a professional film and TV facility named in his honour.
Asked by a student if he had ever imagined how successful he would become, Elba said: 'I mean, yes, I think to be here in the first place, you're already imagining what the future can be.
'And so I was always thinking about what success might look like.
'I didn't know how to get there, but I could see it. I could see it on the silver screen. I could see it in my idols, Eddie Murphy, I saw it everywhere.
A The commemorative Mobo 'Paving the Way' stone (Lucy North/PA)
'But the truth is, what kept me grounded, what kept me focused (as a student) is being in a facility where I get to fall down, get up, fall down, as many times as I want, and I literally found this place, we all did, as a haven, a safe space to actually, not only imagine yourself being a movie star, but try it and fail, and try it, and fail.
'The thing about dreaming is that it happens on a 24-hour cycle.
'So every day I got to come back here, I got to dream bigger. I got to, definitely learn and sharpen how I was going to get there, and that's really important.'
Elba unveiled the stone alongside Mobo Awards founder and chief executive Kanya King.
It reads: 'Mobo. Paving the way for the next generation. Idris Elba. 'Don't get labelled, labels are for cans'.'
Alongside his acting career the film and TV star performs as a DJ and has campaigned against knife crime.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
5 hours ago
- Wales Online
Sam Quek taken to hospital after finding blood in terrifying ordeal
Sam Quek taken to hospital after finding blood in terrifying ordeal Sam Quek will line up for the latest edition of Soccer Aid at Manchester United's Old Trafford on Sunday night Olympian and TV presenter Sam Quek (Image: Amir Hossain/) Sam Quek is back on our screen this evening as she laces up her boots for the latest edition of Soccer Aid. Quek is no stranger to sporting arenas, with the former Olympic gold medallist a decorated star in her own right. At 36 years of age, the winner with Great Britain's women's hockey team in Rio 2016 has now transitioned smoothly into broadcasting since hanging up her boots. Her portfolio includes Olympic Games, football, NFL and rugby commentary. Quek is quickly becoming one of the most popular names in sports broadcasting but she has had to put up with a fair bit of flak in her last major sports TV job. After presenting the Grand National on ITV earlier this year, Quek faced a backlash from racing fans - despite being an ardent racing enthusiast who has owned contenders at prestigious events like the Cheltenham Festival and the 1,000 Guineas. Responding to critics Confronting displeasure from certain quarters of the racing fanbase who felt her joining ITV Racing had "ruined" the Grand National and who debated her racing insight, Quek spoke to the Racing Post. In the face of criticism, she described the response as akin to "a bit like hysteria". Article continues below She noted positively: "In every sport I've worked in over the last 10 years, the reception I've been given has always felt quite welcoming. "So I was surprised by the reaction I got when it was announced I was joining the ITV Racing team for Aintree. I was actually disappointed. My experience of racing to that point had always been so positive, welcoming and inclusive. After the reaction to the ITV announcement, it feels like that has been flipped on its head." She added: "I started getting tagged on social media and things began to build up. People were asking, 'Why is a hockey player doing racing? What does she know about horses?' "Later in the day I saw someone joking that if I had gone and negotiated a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, some people would still have said, 'But why was she there?' I've even had people saying I'm not from Liverpool just because I now live on the Wirral. "I'm not there to replace AP McCoy, Ruby Walsh or Alice Plunkett. I'm there to do the crossover work and, to be honest, I think I'm perfect for that. I want to get across my passion for racing to people who might be watching the biggest race in the world for the first time." 'Jealous' partner Quek is married to husband Tom. Tom, the offspring of a wealthy entrepreneur, set out on his own successful business venture, Antona Student Properties, following a generous £1million boost from his father after finishing his studies. He's not only a savvy businessman but also graced television screens in Channel 4's Secret Millionaire. He and his partner are doting parents to two youngsters, four-year-old Molly and three-year-old Isaac. But their journey to parenthood was marred by profound sorrow before they were blessed with Molly. After enduring the anguish of a miscarriage at 10 weeks in January 2020, the Olympian chose to wait until she was six months pregnant before sharing the news of her pregnancy with Molly. Speaking candidly with OK! magazine during an intimate interview and photoshoot, Quek revealed their mixed emotions. "It's a strange one," she reflected. "Obviously it's the happiest moment of our lives so far, but what happened in January took a toll on both of us and we weren't able to speak about it properly." Their caution during the subsequent pregnancy was tinged with sadness, as Sam explained: "This second pregnancy I've stopped myself getting too excited, which is quite sad. But it made it easier to keep quiet because in the back of your head, you think, 'What if?'" Quek has spoken candidly about a frightening episode during her pregnancy with Isaac, which led to an emergency caesarean section mere days before her due date. Sharing the details with OK! magazine, the ex-hockey player remembered being startled by contractions and then finding she was bleeding. "I woke up and felt a bit of a twinge," Quek recounted. "Those twinges gradually grew stronger and stronger and turned into contractions. I'd been having recurring nightmares that if this birth went to a C-section, I was going to haemorrhage. I just felt like something was going to go wrong for this one, I don't know why. "Naturally, when you're pregnant and see blood, it's never a good sign," she continued. "The consultant said 'just to be safe, we're going to whisk you down for an emergency C-section. We don't want to take the chance that it could be anything sinister, so we would advise getting him out'". Having gone through surgery with husband Tom alongside her, Quek described the rush of feelings upon meeting her new arrival. "When his little face popped up over the curtain, it was the realisation that he'd finally got here, was safe and was going to join our family of three to make it four," she said with joy. Tom, whom Quek considers her "best mate and number one supporter", was acknowledged to have mixed emotions regarding her stint on Strictly Come Dancing, as she revealed he might feel "jealous" of her participation in the show. Nonetheless, Quek dismissed any concerns over the notorious Strictly curse, making it clear her husband's a great supporter of the dance show. "My husband is genuinely really excited for me because he knows how much I'm going to enjoy it," Quek expressed at the time. "And I think that's what's really special about our relationship. We are solid, and I can't wait to share this with him. "He might even be a bit jealous, if I know Tom. He would love to be out there doing it – we're always the couple at a wedding who are the last off the dance floor." Regarding the performance of sensual dance numbers, Quek confessed: "I'm not sexy. I can't do the sexy eyes, the body language. So I think that will be a challenge to tap into that side of me. Article continues below "If if I try to do it, I'll have to try not to laugh. I was on BBC Breakfast and was trying to show Naga Munchetty my sexy face and he [Tom] texted me, saying, 'Almost.'".
Wales Online
5 hours ago
- Wales Online
Tyson Fury refuses to leave any money to his kids despite astonishing net worth
Tyson Fury refuses to leave any money to his kids despite astonishing net worth The heavyweight boxing legend is taking on a brand new sporting role alongside some big names Fury amassed a huge net worth over the course of his boxing career Tyson Fury will take on a new sporting role this weekend as he takes charge of the England squad at Soccer Aid 2025 as part of a big-name coaching team. The former world champion heavyweight boxer - who retired from boxing in January after a second straight loss to Oleksandr Usyk - will be in the dugout at Old Trafford alongside player-coach Wayne Rooney, as well as legendary Premier League manager Harry Redknapp, former England goalkeeper David James and actress Vicky McClure. 'The Gypsy King' will manage the likes of singer Tom Grennan, legendary Olympian Sir Mo Farah and former Lioness Jill Scott as they take on a World XI side led by Peter Schmeichel and Robbie Keane, and with the likes of Tony Bellew, Bryan Habana and Richard Gadd in their ranks. "The prospect of leading my England team to victory this June fills me with just as much excitement as any heavyweight fight," said Fury when his role was announced in March. "Everyone knows that I am a huge Manchester United fan too, so it's even more special for me that the game is at Old Trafford this year, and I get to manage one of my heroes, Wayne Rooney." "I hear a lot of talk of the Gypsy King returning to boxing," he said last month. "What would I return for? More boxing belts? I've won 22 of them. Article continues below "But I'm happy, I'm happy, contented with what I have achieved, what I've accomplished. I've been around the world and back again. "And this is what retirement looks like for the Gypsy King. Not too shabby. I'm in no rush at all to come back [to] boxing and get my face punched in. "For what? What would I return for? I ask that question. So here we are. I'm retired and I'm staying retired. I've got nothing to prove to anybody and nothing to return for." As well as the multiple belts he won over the course of his glittering career, Fury also amassed a huge fortune, which is estimated to be as high as £180 million, according to the Daily Mirror. Before his retirement, Forbes ranked him as the 42nd highest paid athete in the world for 2024, banking a cool $50 million (£39.5m) in that year alone, with a huge $42 million (£33.2m) of that sum coming from his fight earnings. As well as the massive amounts he has banked from his heavyweight bouts - with the purse for his second fight with Usyk reported to be in the region of $150 million (£116 million) - Fury has also boosted his personal fortune with a number of high profile endorsements over the years. The 36-year-old has worked with brands including WOW Hydrate, MTK Global and Lucozade Sport, while his family life was also the subject of the hit Netflix documentary 'At Home with the Furys'. He also owns a number of sports bars, has helped to write three best-selling books and launched his own Furocity energy drink. However, despite his massive fortune, Fury has said that he does not plan to leave any of his money to his seven children which he shares with his wife Paris. 'I want my kids to get their own money, do their own things and be their own people," he explained. "I don't believe in just giving all your money to your kids but it will make them weak, spoiled and not value anything, worthless. They'll end up getting to 35 and never having done anything for themselves, apart from spending dad's money. "They'll be middle-aged looking in the mirror and being disappointed. If I buy my son a Lamborghini as soon as he passes his test, he'll probably kill himself in it. But he also wouldn't appreciate it. But if he works hard and gets himself a 2004 Corsa, he will be outside washing the c*** out every day, hoovering it top to bottom. And I will be proud of him because he has done it himself. Article continues below "I will help them with business deals and investments," he added. "But I am not a person who will just give everyone an easy life. Hard work, dedication and sacrifice are what makes people strive for different things."
Daily Record
12 hours ago
- Daily Record
Soccer Aid: Everything you need to know from line-up, where to watch and when it kicks off
The annual event kicks off tonight at 7:30pm. Soccer Aid kicks off this weekend and the iconic event sees several celebrities lace up their football boots to raise money for charity. Every year the star-studded football match takes place to raise funds for Unicef and this year many famous faces are doing their bit to raise the vital cash. As well as actors, singers and comedians, football stars will also take to the pitch for another game as England goes head to head with the World XI. Soccer Aid has been running for over 20 years and has raised £100million overall, writes The Mirror. Sam Matterface and Love Island voice Iain Stirling will be commentating the match and here's all the details about Soccer Aid you need to know. The line-up There are many recognisable players and coaches in this year's Soccer Aid as several A-listers are getting involved. Some celebs will be on the pitch while others will be subs or acting as coaches for the team. Here's who you can expect to see. England coaching team: Tyson Fury (Boxer) Harry Redknapp (Former football manager) Vicky McClure (Actor) David James (Former footballer Sam Thompson (TV star) England players: Steven Bartlett (Entrepreneur) Alex Brooker (TV personality) Jermain Defoe (Former footballer) Toni Duggan (Former footballer) Sir Mo Farah (Former Olympian) Angry Ginge (YouTuber) Tom Grennan (Musician) Joe Hart (Former footballer) Steph Houghton (Former footballer) Aaron Lennon (Former footballer) Dame Denise Lewis (Olympic gold medallist) Paddy McGuinness (TV personality) Gary Neville (Former footballer) Sam Quek (Former Olympian) Wayne Rooney (Former footballer) Paul Scholes (Former footballer) Jill Scott (Former footballer) Louis Tomlinson (Musician) World XI coaching team: Peter Schmeichel (Former footballer) World XI players: Noah Beck (Actor) Tony Bellew (Boxer) Leonardo Bonucci (Former footballer) Tobi Brown (Sideman star) Martin Compston (Actor) Richard Gadd (Actor/comedian) Bryan Habana (Rugby) Dermot Kennedy (Musician and halftime performer) Harry Kewell (Former footballer) Kaylyn Kyle (Former footballer) Gorka Marquez (Strictly) Nadia Nadim (Footballer) Livi Sheldon (Diamond from Gladiators) Carlos Tevez (Former footballer) Edwin van der Sar (Former footballer) Nemanja Vidic (Former footballer) Billy Wingrove (Freestyle footballer) Big Zuu (Musician and TV personality) How to watch Soccer Aid? Soccer Aid airs on Sunday 15 June. Kick off is at 7:30pm but you will be able to tune in to watch pre-match content beforehand. Coverage will start at 6pm which means you have an hour and a half of pre-match show. You can watch Soccer Aid 2025 live on ITV1 and ITVX will have you covered for a live stream on mobile devices. When did Soccer Aid begin? Soccer Aid was launched in 2006 by former Take That singer Robbie Williams and Jonathan Wilkes. It initially took place every two years but is now an annual event. Females were first allowed to play in the game in 2019 and it is the only mixed-sex match officially sanctioned by The Football Association. 2020 saw the event held behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
