With all eyes on the Olympics, a dozen "heroes of the north" have been chosen in an effort to readdress the London-centric agenda. The Northern Champions report, by the IPPR North thinktank, features a "ones-to-watch" list of 12 of the most promising figures in the north of England across the worlds of sport, politics, drama, business and education.
Among those named is the prize-winning Cumbrian playwright Lee Mattinson, who relies heavily on observation in the north-east for his plays. His latest, Chalet Lines, is being produced by Newcastle's Live Theatre at London's Bush theatre. On the political front, the judging panel tipped Dan Jarvis, the Barnsley Central MP and shadow culture minister, who launched a "Proud of Barnsley" drive to focus on the town's heritage. The Olympics-bound trampolinist Kat Driscoll and swimmer Keri-Anne Payne and the Paralympic athlete Hannah Cockroft are also picked.
Last year's list had a few hits, notably Rachel Reeves, now shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, and Prof Clare Bambra, who has since been made associate director of the Wolfson Research Institute. More than 100 nominations were received this time round.
Ed Cox, director of IPPR North, said: "Northern Champions provides us with the opportunity to celebrate and recognise talented individuals and the potential that they bring to the communities in which they live. With so much emphasis currently placed on the troubled economy and grim statistics in the north, it is important to also identify success in the region and to project a message of hope for the future."
The list in full:
Dan Jarvis, 39, Nottingham-born MP for Barnsley Central.
Lee Mattinson, 32, Cumbrian playwright.
Hannah Cockroft, 19, Halifax-based wheelchair athlete.
Kat Driscoll, 26, trampolinist ranked world number one.
Emma Smith, founded a community waste management company in Manchester.
Yvonne Sharples, 45, a headteacher who turned around what was the country's worst performing school in a deprived part of Liverpool.
Leanne Goodwin, 38, managing director of the recruiting agency Jobwise.
Prof Andy Gouldson, social scientist at the University of Leeds and government adviser on climate change.
Keri-Anne Payne, 24, Stockport-based swimmer who won silver at Beijing Olympics.
Dominic Edmunds, Durham-born software designer.
Elena Rodriguez-Falcon, 40, Sheffield University teacher and faculty director of Women in Engineering.
Nick Forbes, 32, leader of Newcastle city council and chief executive of Involve North East charity.
