He spent his years as an undergraduate hanging around Manchester’s cinemas wishing his work would one day be displayed on the big screen – now it’s all coming true.
Manchester director KC Locke is already well-known amongst music fans for his breathtaking music videos, created for high-profile music industry A-listers like Ed Sheeran and Stormzy.
He’s already in high demand amongst A&Rs, and regularly flies around the world to take on shoots in exotic locations.
But it’s an accolade for a Manchester music video that has seen him return to his old place of work to be awarded this latest gong (and to see his film on the big screen).
Last night, his music video for Moston rapper Aitch’s track Learning Curve was recognised with an award at the Manchester International Film Awards – leaving the young creative from Urmston and his team feeling completely overjoyed.
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Reflecting on the journey that has brought him to this point, KC Locke said of the award win: “I used to work at the Odeon cinema while at Uni wishing one day I’d have my work on the big screen.
“Last night I collected the award for best music video and the feeling was mad!
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“Very proud of the whole team who have worked extremely hard over the past 2 years grinding daily pushing the vision and crazy ideas I keep dreaming up.”
KC Locke once worked at the Odeon, now he’s receiving awards there. / Image: The Manc Group
After amassing more than eight million views on Youtube, his music video Learning Curve was featured at the Manchester Film Festival in an opening screening of northwest short films – taking home the award for ‘Best Music Video’.
The short film shows Aitch speeding around in high spec cars and, most notably, laying in bed in a designer robe surrounded by an array of curvy ladies lounging in their underwear.
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Ahead of its release, a teaser shared by the rapper – real name Harrison Armstrong – saw him attract criticism and go on to row with a number of body-shaming trolls, who he termed ‘idiots’ after some called for ‘slim girls’ in the comments.
However, many more praised the music video for its inclusivity and presentation of ‘real’ women as it shows a mixture of different races and body shapes.
Image: Youtube
Now, the music video has been validated once again for its diversity with this new award win.
At the time of the teaser’s release, Aitch told haters objecting to his inclusive casting: ‘All the man hating on the girls on my new post are iiiiidiots [sic].
‘First of all you could never even come near these girls, they don’t want you. They’re too leng for you.’
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He continued: ‘Also, chatting this s**t ain’t gonna help you get the “slim” girls. It’s just gonna make everyone hate you more lol.
‘Furthermore you couldn’t even handle these ladies with your little d**k hating a*s energy. They need the reeeeeeeal suttn [sic].’
You can watch the full video created by KC Locke for Aitch’s track Learning Curve here.
Body of woman found in River Mersey last year finally identified after ‘extensive’ investigation
Emily Sergeant
The body of woman who was found in the River Mersey last year has finally been identified.
Following what has been described as an ‘extensive investigation’ by Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Major Incident Team to determine the identity of the body, which was sadly discovered in the river adjacent to Chorlton Water Park on 21 March 2024, the family of the victim has now been informed and supported by specialist officers.
The victim has been formally named as 38-year-old Laura Stanley, who was originally from Derbyshire but was living in Stockport.
After the body was discovered, and ‘exhaustive and determined’ investigation by GMP officers began to identify here, including detailed checks of both national and international databases.
The Major Incident Team (MIT) also closely worked in collaboration with specialist forensic service providers to create an anthropological profile, which eventually culminated in the creation of a facial reconstruction image.
Following several media appeals, a relative of Laura contacted officers and then a DNA match was confirmed through a familial link.
“Laura was a kind and gentle person with a great sense of fun and adventure,” Laura’s family said in a heartbreaking tribute to her.
“She was generous, thoughtful, caring and always keen to volunteer within the community. Laura was a proud and loving mum and she will be greatly missed by her girls and all of her friends and family who loved her dearly.”
The River Mersey, across from Chorlton Water Park, where Laura’s body was discovered / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
While Laura has now been identified, police say further investigations will take place to understand her last movements, the events that led to her death, and her discovery in the river.
Additionally, as is standard practice, GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate is also reviewing a previous missing report relating to Laura in the time before the discovery of her body, which will determine prior contact relating to Laura, and whether the appropriate measures were enacted.
#UPDATE | A woman who was discovered in the River Mersey last year has been identified following an extensive investigation by officers in GMP’s Major Incident Team.
Thank you to those of you who have shared our appeals over the last year.
Anyone who knew Laura and thinks they may be able to assist with the investigation is asked to contact police by calling 101, or by using the Live Chat Service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log number 1191 of 21 March 2024.
Alternatively, you can contact the Major Incident Team Syndicate 3 directly on 0161 856 9479, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
It is currently believed that Laura was last seen around January 2024.
Featured Image – GMP
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More than 70,000 home buyers set to pay thousands after missing stamp duty relief deadline
Emily Sergeant
More than 70,000 home buyers across England are estimated to have missed the stamp duty relief deadline.
This sadly means they’ll be required to fork out thousands of pounds extra.
In case you hadn’t heard, up until yesterday (31 March 2025), anyone who was moving and had bought a home in the past was not required to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax, better-known as just stamp duty, on the portion of the property price up to £250,000.
But from today (1 April), this threshold has now fallen back to £125,000, which unfortunately means that property purchasers are facing an extra £2,500 in moving costs, on average.
While the end of the stamp duty relief will mostly affect those Greater Manchester buyers who had already previously purchased properties, first time buyers are sadly not exempt from the deadline changes too, as their current stamp duty threshold of £425,000 has now fallen back to £300,000 as of today.
Person holding the keys to a new house in their hand / Credit: Maria Ziegler (via Unsplash)
Given that the average property price for a first time buyer-type home is currently around £227,965, according to Rightmove, the new £300,000 threshold may hit those purchasing properties in more expensive areas – particularly the South East.
A third of those estimated 70,000 home buyers who have missed the deadline are thought to be first time buyers.
Leading property platform Rightmove published an analysis in February into just how much of an impact the end of the stamp duty relief would have on home buyers, all while calling on the UK Government to announce a short extension to the deadline to help people in the middle of the property purchasing process avoid potentially thousands of pounds in extra moving costs.
But despite these calls from industry leaders, there was no extension to the deadline announced in the last week’s latest Spring Statement.
“It’s extremely disappointing that the Government has not used the Spring Statement as an opportunity to extend the impending stamp duty deadline for those currently going through the home-moving process,” commented Rightmove’s property expert Colleen Babcock.
“We estimate over 70,000 people are going to miss the deadline and complete in April instead, and a third of those are first time buyers.”
Georgina Pellant -
21st March 2022 
