Calvin Harris’ magnificent gesture to blind gamers

Superstar DJ Calvin Harris has given a podcast presenter with only a handful of listeners permission to use one of his chart-topping hits.

Stuart Beveridge chanced his arm when he contacted the musician’s management to ask if he could use the Scots DJ’s hit Summer at the end of his Monkey Gaming podcast each week. And he got the shock of his life when they said he could.

He now has a licence allowing him to use the track for a year.

Stuart’s podcast brings together news and reviews for blind and partially-sighted gamers, delivered in a format suitable for them.

However, the fledgling project has very few followers on Twitter.

Stuart said: “We are so grateful to Calvin for agreeing we could use his music for our podcasts and planned YouTube videos.

“Blind and partially-sighted people love playing games and this project means gamers can get impartial reviews of games designed for them.”

The generous offer means Stuart had more luck than Calvin’s ex-girlfriend, Rita Ora.

The Voice judge Rita was prevented from performing No 1 single I Will Never Let You Down at last year’s Teen Choice Awards after Calvin refused to let her use the song at the event. She needed her ex to approve TV performances for the track as he wrote and produced it.

Calvin never explained his reasons for his refusal although there was speculation the pair had fallen out following their split last summer.

However, Calvin appears to have moved on after he was spotted this week with US singer Taylor Swift. She was also said to have been seen sitting on his lap.

Monkey Gaming was set up with the help of the charity Fife Society for the Blind based in Kirkcaldy by Stuart Beveridge who is blind.

Fife Society for the Blind chief executive Ann Porter said: “We supported Stuart’s project because it had the potential to really change things for blind and partially-sighted people.

“It would appear Calvin Harris believes that too, which is magnificent.”