Students on De Montfort University’s Music, Film and Entertainment Journalism module pick the films, plays, music, TV shows and books that shaped them
My favourite film/s
Funnily enough, I am not a massive fan of musicals but my all-time favourite film – and it has been since I was four years old – is Mamma Mia. When I was little, I used to beg my uncle to rewatch the film as it ended, again and again and again. Other films I love are the Kingsman movies, Brave and Iron Man – but the second one.
The last film I watched
I believe the last film I watched was Deadpool and Wolverine on Disney+. I was obsessed with it this summer and I am so glad it is on Disney now. If I am being honest, I am more of a series person then a film person.
Favourite TV show/s
This one is hard but I would say it is Shameless US, not the UK one (I tried to watch that but never finished season one). Another of my comfort shows would be The Big Bang Theory (TBBT). I am not a maths and science person but the show is comforting in a way that I cannot explain. Other shows I love and deserve to be mentioned are Arcane, Heartstopper, Young Sheldon, XO Kitty, The Vampire Diaries, The Originals and Boy Swallows Universe.
TV show I am currently binging
I just finished binge watching Shameless and I started binge watching TBBT. I feel like every three months I rewatch Shameless, I love that show so much.
My favourite book
I am not a massive reader but I would say, in a shocking turn of events, my favourite book is Romance by Arnaud Cathrine. It is a French book, which is the shock factor here, as I don’t usually read in French but thanks to a good friend of mine who read this in high school and talked about it, I read it. It’s also the fastest I have ever read a book in my life.
My favourite author
Alice Oseman (left), author of the comic Heartstopper, which was turned into a Netflix show, and of Solitaire, which is my second favourite book.
My first gig
The first real gig I went to was in 2018 and it was to see my best mate’s favourite artist, BigFlo & Oli. They are French rappers who are brothers. If I am being completely honest, I would not count that as my first gig as I went for my best mate and I was not really a fan of theirs, therefore I would say my first actual gig was in Oslo in 2022 to see my all-time favourite artist, Louis Tomlinson. It was days away from my 18th birthday and some would say that is late to go to your first gig and to that I say, I know but before COVID, my passion for music was non-existent.
The best gig I have been to
This is a hard one. My first Louis show was memorable but would I say it’s the best gig? No. The best Louis Tomlinson concert I went to was in London in November, 2023. I did not have the best view as I was seated but it was amazing. He sold out the O2 Arena and I was, and still am, so proud of him. Other than that I do not think I can choose the best one I have been to. I loved Zayn’s gig, Twenty One Pilots – this one was a spontaneous ticket purchase – Niall Horan and 5 Seconds of Summer. I cannot choose a favourite.
My favourite artist/band
As you have probably guessed, my favourite artist is Louis Tomlinson. Back in 2017 when he released Back To You and I fell in love with the song and did not think of it until three years later he popped up on my For You Page on TikTok. Ever since then he has been my favourite artist. Not to get too personal but he saved my life.
Last year he released a CD of another version of his latest album Faith In The Future and on this CD he released the rock version of ‘Back To You’. When I heard this version live at his gig I was obsessed. I love this version of this song and I am still salty that he never released it on Spotify.
Favourite songs
This is a very hard question. I have too many favourite songs. Obviously Back To You is one of them, Holding onto Heartache, Perfect Now, Out of My System and some of my favourites by Louis Tomlinson. Flop by Bassvictim is an amazing song. Dice and Roll by Odetari is incredible. Falling by K!$$ED is a sensational song from a small French artist. Guess by Charli XCX featuring Billie Eilish is also on this list. The Diner, Lunch, Ilomilo, Therefore I Am and Copycat by Billie Eilish are all unbelievable.
Favourite lyric
“And time can always heal you
If you let it make its way into your bones
Nothing’s ever easy
To be honest, I’m not easy on myself”
From Holding onto Heartache by … Louis Tomlinson.
