Cornish gamer, 10, starring in Roblox movie on the big screen

A 10-year-old Cornish gamer has gone from playing Roblox in his living room to starring in the world’s first Roblox gamer movie. Thomas Gavasingha, from Cornwall, is one of six British children competing in Kartoon Channel’s Gaming Challenge UK movie. The movie wil see Thomas battling it out on the hugely popular Roblox platform to be crowned the ultimate gamer.

Fans will be able to watch competitors - all British children aged between nine and 12 - taking part in eight exclusive Roblox challenges. Two finalists will then go head-to-head to win a grand prize and the coveted title. But for Thomas, it nearly didn’t happen.



His father, Gavin, 39, a primary school teacher, said: “It all started when a stranger turned up saying he wanted to use my car for a show called Beyond Paradise, and I just thought, ‘Yeah, right!’” It was only when Gavin’s wife, Laura, 42, an accountant, reassured him that the One drama series was legitimate that they agreed to take part. The family’s car was used in the filming. While on set, they were encouraged to sign their infant daughter up for baby modelling which opened them up to opportunities.

A few weeks later, Laura spotted an advert on for Gaming Challenge UK - a first-of-its-kind Roblox competition for children; so she put Thomas forward. Thomas passed the first round of auditions, was invited to a second-stage interview, and was then chosen as one of the six contestants. Thomas was selected from thousands of applicants to take part, alongside five other young gamers: Ilyaan, 10, from Blackburn, Lancashire; Ottie, 11, from Surrey; Isaac, 12, from North Yorkshire; and Abigail, 11, from County Durham.

Each child had full permission from their parents or legal guardians. The competition, set to be released in Vue cinemas across the UK on April 19, sees young players take part in a series of exclusive Roblox challenges, with two finalists going head-to-head for the coveted Ultimate Gamer title. “I loved it,” Thomas said.

“It was awesome. "I got to meet new people from far away, like Jaymee, who lives near Scotland. We had so much fun, and I won my first phone!” The production team sent Thomas a high-definition webcam and headset, transforming his living room into a gaming studio.

Over two days, he played in front of the camera, chatting with fellow contestants and navigating a series of unique challenges, including Puppy Parkour and Meow Mountain. Kartoon Channel's Gaming Challenge UK has been awarded a U certification, meaning it is suitable for all audiences, including children aged four and over. In the movie, each level unlocks a new prize in the prize portal.

The further the contestants progressed, the more valuable the prizes became. From challenge four onwards, one contestant was eliminated at the end of each round, but even those who didn’t make it to the final walked away with prizes. “The game’s design was genius,” Gavin said.

“It didn’t matter if you finished last or first; everyone walked away with something.” Thomas won his first mobile phone - something he had never expected. But for him, it wasn’t just about winning prizes.

“I got to meet a lot of new people,” he said. “I won’t see them every day, but we had a lot of fun together.” The Gavasingha household is no stranger to gaming.

With five children ranging from toddler Emma to teenager Isaac, video games are a shared family pastime. “We play Mario Kart together as a family,” Gavin said. “I used to let them win, but now they beat me even when I try my hardest!” Though they have a PS5 and a Switch, Roblox has become Thomas’s favourite, especially because it constantly offers new games to explore.

“There’s always something new,” he said. “If you get bored, you can pick a different game that suits what you like.” For Gavin and Laura, the competition was about more than just gaming - it was about giving Thomas an opportunity to shine.

“He’s one of those quiet kids that can get overlooked,” Gavin said. “But this competition gave him a moment to step forward and be part of something really exciting. He was over the moon!” Thomas has taken the experience in his stride.

And he is keen for more competitions, and perhaps even another shot at the big screen in the future. “I’ll definitely keep playing,” he said. “It was so much fun!” His parents, once wary of casting calls and surprise opportunities, now look at things a little differently.

“We went from thinking we were being scammed to watching our son appear in a movie,” Gavin said. “It’s been a mad journey, but we wouldn’t change a thing.” Kartoon Channel’s Gaming Challenge UK is out in select Vue Cinemas from April 19.

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