It sounds like a cross between Dragon’s Den and The Voice.
Four celebrity mentors will help four candidates to launch their ideas in the opportunity of a lifetime.
The project, called Launching People will see pop-up chef and Sunday Times cook Gizzi Erskine search for undiscovered British and Irish talent.
But it’s not just food. Award-winning actor and producer Idris Elba, singer-songwriter Paloma Faith and portrait and fashion photographer Rankin will also be nurturing candidates with a passion for film, music and photography.
The mentors, together with Samsung will be scouring the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland to find people with extraordinary potential and original ideas. The chosen candidates will work with one of the four inspirational mentors to collaborate on a unique project. Their journey, from meeting the mentors to the launch of their project, will be documented in a television series to air later this year.
Could you be what the celebrity mentors are looking for?
Film: Idris Elba, award winning actor, producer, and DJ says: “I want a story that’s inspiring.”
Music: Paloma Faith, singer-songwriter, performer and actress says: “I’m really looking for something we’ve not seen in a British artist before.”
Food: Gizzi Erskine, leading pop up chef and food writer says: “The simple ideas can be the best. But a simple idea with a bit of glitter on it is far more exciting.”
Photography: Rankin, world famous portrait and fashion photographer says “I want to know what they do that’s different, that’s interesting.”
What can Gizzi offer you?
So where do Samsung fit in with this?
Andy Griffiths, President, Samsung UK and Ireland, commented: “Everyone knows Samsung for launching products and every day we’re inspired by people who use those products to achieve amazing things. ‘Launching People’ is all about doing just that – launching people’s potential through technology, whatever their stage in life. We hope to give people with passion, ambition and a hungry mind, a launch pad for their bright ideas and change their lives in a positive way.”
Two opportunities:
1. The mentors will select four candidates with whom they’ll work one-to-one. The chosen protégés will spend 2-3 weeks together, working closely with their mentors in a house fully furnished with Samsung’s latest technology on their personal projects, building towards a grand launch event and making their ideas and ambitions a reality.
2. And the public will get to vote for one winner in each category to receive £500 for personal tuition and Samsung technology up to the value of £2000.
How to enter:
To apply you need to make a 2-minute video all about you and your ambition. This is your chance to show off your passion, your personality, and your project idea, to get the attention of the four celebrity mentors. Then supply an image and a bit of copy and you’re good to go. You can find out more and upload your submission at: www.LaunchingPeople.co.uk
Submissions are open until Thursday 6th March and the final four will feature in the television series later this year.
There will also be a ‘People’s Choice’ winner per category, voted for by the public on Facebook, who will receive personal tuition and Samsung products that will support them in pursuing their dreams. The ‘People’s Choice’ winners will be announced on Friday 7th March.
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Really loving this challenge. Wonder who they will pick, lucky people if they get through!
Going to be interesting. I wonder if the show will only feature the final four or whether we’ll get to see any of the “hopefuls”?
Gizzi is lovely, I attended an event with her. The person who gets to work with her will be very fortunate indeed!
Great opportunity
Alright, the American needs some clarification. I understand that this could be a bit of a sore point, so please no one yell at me. I thought the Irish were British but not English? When they say the show is for British and Irish talent, are the Welsh and Scottish included in British, but not the Irish?
Interesting question. I had interpreted it as being a show that would air both in UK and Republic of Ireland (which are two different countries with their own TV networks never mind governments etc).
To answer your overall comment though is rather complicated and some people might be touchy about the explanation. I’m not an expert and probably someone will shout down at this explanation but my understanding is:
(I should preamble this explanation by explaining and not assuming you already know Ireland is split into the Republic of Ireland (southern larger bit, capital Dublin) and Northern Ireland (smaller northern bit, capital Belfast). I won’t get into the historical reasons why etc etc because it’s way to complicated for me to explain. Republic of Ireland is a completely separate country to the UK. Always was until the English invaded in 16th Century and occupied Ireland until around 1920. (My dates may be slightly off here).
So. Citizens of ROI are Irish and NOT British and would be unamused if you thought they were British. Folk from Northern Ireland are definitely still Irish but are British citizens eligible for British passports (although probably a lot of them are eligible for dual nationality and hold Irish passports too if they choose). Quite probably, depending on their political standpoints, Northern Irish folk are even more likely to be upset if you described them as British rather than Irish. The Scottish are definitely Scottish and the Welsh are definitely Welsh. Scottish and Welsh folk are eligible for British passports and (to my knowledge) there’s no such thing as a Welsh passport or a Scottish passport (yet). The Welsh and Scottish very likely take offence if you erroneously describe them as English but less likely to take umbrage at being described as British.(So yes term “British” for this TV show refers to Welsh and Scottish candidates too). The Irish (north and south), Scottish and Welsh are quite like each other but none of them like the English whom they resent for invading/occupying/dominating over the years. (This is a simplistic description and not intended to start a fight with anyone).
The English have British passports and there’s no such thing as an English passport. The British Government in London governs England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales but in the past decade or so, Scotland has had its own parliament and Northern Ireland/Wales have had Northern Ireland and Welsh Assemblies who pass legislation affecting their own countries. England doesn’t have its own parliament, only the British one because arguably the British parliament is so England focussed there’s no point. (Parliament is all the elected politicians, Government is the party in charge although right now it’s more complicated than that because we have a coalition government and two parties are sharing power).
Both Britain and Republic of Ireland are in the European Union. ROI uses the Euro, Britain does not. Ostensibly all EU countries also have laws made at European level but each country seems to make it up as they go along which countries adopt what as law in their own country. Technically we’re all EU Citizens and free to travel, live and work wherever we like within EU countries.
Golly I had no idea I lived somewhere so complicated and I can understand why outsiders get confused!!!!!
And yo confusing the issue the United Kingdom and British Isles are different. Citizens of the Channel Islands hold British passports, but the islands are not part of the EU.
Ack I meant to say the Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh “all quite like each other” NOT “are like each other” but cannot edit on this tablet.
What a great opportunity – can’t wait for the TV prog.
Sounds like a great opportunity for a budding (un-camera shy) foodie out there! Will be intrigued to see how the programme plays out.
Hehe, good run down Sarah. We are all British, but like to be know for our individual countries, that’s how I would describe it. If in doubt, English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh!
Good luck to everyone who takes part!
p.s
great explanation of british/english subject 🙂 was worth to read!
Haha, great comment Morgan! Thank goodness no one mentioned the Cornish 😉
Janie x
Oh wow Gizzi is truely so inspiring on TV , am sure she will do wonders to the lucky person who gets selected!
LOL, I think there’s a certain amount of convenience ‘countries’. The best example was when Andy Murray looked as if he might win Wimbledon and all of a sudden went from being a ‘Scottish’ tennis player to a ‘British’ one;) – whatever, I like this initiative and will be forwarding on to friends with kids who might be interested
Not one for me I am camera shy , but agreat opportunity.
Sounds like a great opportunity for anyone with a business idea. I love Gizzi she would make a wonderful mentor.