NICK MORAN - LOCK, STOCK STAR SWAPS CRIME FOR CHIEFDOM

LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS star NICK MORAN has been invited to head a Nigerian tribe in honour of his services to the country's film industry. The West African nation decided on the bizarre accolade after Moran filmed low-budget British-Nigerian movie THE AMAZING GRACE, and the actor admits he's thrilled - and worried - by the impending initiation ceremony. He says, "Both the Nigerian president and the governor of the Calabar region wanted to demonstrate their gratitude. It's a real honour. "I'm not sure what my role as chief of the Esit tribe will be - I don't know if I will have to do chiefly things or settle disputes. "The ceremony is being kept very secret. I'm getting a little scared that they'll hang me up by my nipples or something." Moran played EDDIE in GUY RITCHIE's 1998 drama, before taking on the role of British slave trader JOHN NEWTON, whose voyage to West Africa inspired him to write the world's most popular hymn, AMAZING GRACE.