The Midas Touch

New anti-gun crime adverts will appear on music channel MTV – in a move branded hypocritical by one of the stars.

Entrepreneur Laban Roomes, Singer Estelle, Olympic boxer James De Gale and Apprentice winner Tim Campbell feature in the black and white advertisement campaign, backed by police for £32,000.

The short interviews, sponsored by Scotland Yard’s Trident anti-gun crime unit, aim to prevent young black people being caught up in gun culture.

But one role model branded the broadcaster “totally hypocritical” for also glamorising violence.

Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Laban Roomes said some music videos are a big influence on those carrying guns.

Click here to watch Laban Roomes MTV anti gun advert

Detective Chief Superintendent Helen Ball, head of Trident, said music videos alone were not responsible for glamorising gun crime.

She said: “We think there is a whole range of influences on young people and I am not going to say one aspect is more important than another.

“Hearing how successful people like Estelle or Tim Campbell were able to make great success of their lives, without a gun, is so important for our young communities.”

Click here to watch Estelle, Ashley Waters, DeGale and Tim Campbell in MTV anti Gun advert

Every two weeks Goldgenie opens up its work shops situated at the Business Innovation centre in Enfield and Hatton Gardens EC1 to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Students studying business at local colleges and Universities watch with interest as they see objects turn to gold during the unique gold plating process.

Laban Roomes often gives the students an inspirational and motivational talk about himself, how he started the Goldgenie company, and his appearance on the BBC Dragon’s Den TV programme where he secured financial backing from James Caan.

Students catch a rare and invaluable insight into what it takes to work with companies such as Harrods, HMV, Selfridges and of course James Caan!

Laban is happy to go these educational visits entirely free of charge and sees it as a necessary requirement to share his knowledge to anyone wanting to better themselves – especially young entrepreneurs.

Tonight sees the 10th Anniversary White Tie & Tiara Ball in support of the Elton John Aids Foundation. It’s bound to be a special night and it’s an invitation-only do.

As part of our support for the foundation, we’ve teamed up with Micro Anvika to create a (very) limited edition – eleven only! – 8GB gold-plated iPod Nano. You can see one of these extremely rare beauties in the picture below.