
Stormzy set to make film debut with major career move
The launch is his entry into the world of film and visual storytelling, expanding the #Merky brand (which already includes #Merky Books, #Merky Foundation, and #Merky FC).
To kick off the venture, Stormzy is debuting Big Man, a short film produced in association with Apple and shot entirely on iPhone 16 Pro.
Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Aneil Karia, the film stars Stormzy in his first-ever lead acting role.
Klevis Brahja, 15, will also be making his acting debut in the film after being street-cast for the film.
Some fans may recognise Jaydon Eastman, 14, from The Lion King, Matilda, and MJ The Musical on the West End, who is also starring in the new project.
Premiering on YouTube at 8:00pm BST on June 18, 2025, the film follows the story of Tenzman, a retired rap star whose life takes an unexpected turn after he meets two spirited boys, Klevis and Tyrell.
Their unlikely friendship rekindles Tenzman's passion for music, leading him down new avenues of discovery. The film explores themes of rediscovery, gratitude, and the enduring power of connection. More Trending
'#Merky Films is something I've been dreaming about for ages,' said Stormzy.
'It's a space for powerful British stories and fresh, unexpected art. I hope Big Man inspires people to dream bigger and live louder.'
The new media venture aims to spotlight new voices and bold narratives within British cinema and TV, and its upcoming slate includes a drama series, a biopic, documentaries, a new animation project, and a mockumentary.
In an Instagram post about the project, Stormzy wrote: 'I hope you love Big Man as much as we loved making it. It captures the joy, the spirit and the fearless energy of youth and I hope it inspires you to dream big.'
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Daily Mirror
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
The Only Way is Essex original stars now as show celebrates 15-year anniversary
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Sam Faiers (Series 1-11) Sam Faiers, a key figure in the inaugural episode of TOWIE, was at the heart of many dramatic storylines and rollercoaster romances. Initially, she was entangled with Mark Wright, despite his on-again off-again relationship with Lauren Goodger. In the second series, Sam kindled a romance with Joey Essex, leading to their engagement in the eighth series. In March 2014, Sam announced her temporary departure from TOWIE after the conclusion of its eleventh series, due to her diagnosis with Crohn's disease. She later starred in The Mummy Diaries on ITVBe alongside her sister Billie and their families, but left the show in 2021. The reality star is also a mother to Paul, eight, Rosie, six, and Edward, two, whom she shares with her boyfriend Paul Knightley. She co-founded Revive Collagen and resides in Hertfordshire. Billie Faiers (Series 2-18) Following in her sister's footsteps, Billie joined the TOWIE cast in the second series. 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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Move over, Americans... Englishmen are the next best thing! From Nicola Peltz, Zendaya, Olivia Rodrigo and JoJo Siwa, all the stars who have found love with a Brit
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Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
I had a luxe London trip on discount codes — with £30 theatre and £26 Hawksmoor
London rightly has a reputation as one of the most expensive cities in the world. That's fair enough, particularly when it comes to rent and mortgages. And yes, going out can also make a serious dent to your bank balance. But if you're a money saver, I think living or visiting the capital offers far more potential to cut other costs than anywhere else in the UK. And that doesn't require scrimping or thifting, nor does it mean missing out on some of the nicer things. Don't believe me? Here are some highlights from a few days I've just spent in London. With so many restaurants, there are also many ways to get really good food for less. One I took advantage of was a special menu at steak mini-chain Hawksmoor available at lunch, pre and post-theatre. The Slice is your weekly guide to what's happening in London, so if you're looking for restaurant reviews, drinks deals or just a great new exhibition to visit on a rainy Saturday in the capital, we've got you covered. Click here for this week's edit of the best things to do in town. The Slice newsletter also a brand new look! We'll still be in your inbox every week, bringing you all the very best things to eat, drink and do in the capital. So if you want get the next edition before anyone else, sign up here! If you want to do it all on the cheap, you can also find our latest batch of exclusive hand-picked offers in partnership with Time Out here. The hake and sweet potato main was delicious and sizeable and a happy hour glass of rose hit the spot. Stacking an American Express 10% cashback offer on top of this special menu, I paid just £26 including service. An hour later and the same meal would have set me back £42. Adding extra courses included in the offer would have increased the saving even more, but there wasn't any point spending more when I was full enough. And good news for non-Londoners, it also has locations with the same offer in Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh. It's no wonder there are frequent op-eds decrying how expensive West End theatre tickets are. The seat I had for matinee performance of the Broadway transfer of the Tony-winning Stereophonic was listed at £150. The row in front was priced at a staggering £250. However, I paid just £30, saving £120. That was thanks to the 'Rush ticket' feature on the app TodayTix. It's effectively a lottery on the day of the performance to fill empty seats. There's no guarantee you'll get a ticket, or that you'll get one of the top priced seats, so I was lucky. And though I don't agree with some of the rave reviews, for £30 it was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. I managed to see a decent comedy show for just a tenner thanks to Central Tickets. The rules of websites like this are I can't say what I saw, but my seat should have cost £47.90 if I'd gone direct to the box office. I love a good gig, and managed to see two performances on my trip. The biggest bargain was an in-store from all-girl punk group Panic Shack at Rough Trade East, just off Brick Lane. For £16.06 I not only got access to an intimate gig, but also a copy of their new CD. Dates for their tour later this year start at £20 before fees, so throw in the album on top and I think it was at least a 50% saving. This way to save isn't just limited to London, but I used a free ticket to finally see Danny Boyle's latest movie 28 Years Later at the Vue Leicester Square. More Trending There are a few ways I get these, from opening up a Club Lloyds current account to a perk from Vitality health insurance, but this one was actually a freebie given away by my energy provider Octopus earlier in the year. Since weekend showings are often more expensive than others, using this on a Saturday saved me £13.99. Finally, travel. Yep the tube and trains are pricey, especially compared to other metro systems in other countries. The daily cap on card payments will help people moving around a lot, but I managed to beat this on my first day – and that was by adding a Travelcard to my inbound rail ticket. This added £5.60 to my fare, versus a £8.90 limit on Zone 1-2 travel with my debit card. And I knocked another 10% off that thanks to an offer for train ticket seller LNER via my American Express card. Total saving:£203.81. Total spent: £77.10. View More » MORE: Westminster Cathedral turned into drug dealer haven with 'cocaine sold on pews' MORE: Murder manhunt after woman in 20s killed outside Romford care home MORE: 'The worst show on TV' might finally be ending and viewers are surprisingly sad Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.