Northerners: The bestselling history of the North of England

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As part of our centenary celebrations, we have drawn up a list of 100 North East heroes who have made their names in the 100 years since the Sunday Sun was first published. Southerners, on the other hand, sometimes refer to people from the North as “northern monkeys,” which means they think northerners are uncultured. A moral philosopher who made enormous contributions to human thinking on questions such as the self, our animal heritage and our place in the universe. She was a senior lecturer in philosophy at Newcastle University, and wrote her first book, Beast And Man (1978), when she was in her fifties, and went on to write over 15 more. Alison Kay The North East music legend was born Gordon Matthew Sumner and became an world star with his band The Police. He has also pursued a successful solo career and is proud of his North East roots, Sting’s musical The Last Ship was inspired by his childhood experiences and the shipbuilding industry in Wallsend. Mo Mowlam

Northerners and Southerners: Are they THAT different?

Everything north of London is the North if you think about it." – Will, Hull What do you mean you don't call it a bread roll? One of the ‘Pitmen Painters’, he was a member of the same sketching group in Spennymoor as another miner-artist, Norman Cornish. Tom started to paint seriously in 1948, and in 1949, the Shipley Art Gallery in Gateshead bought his drawing Miner and Child. While his reputation as an artist grew, he was made redundant in 1983. Andrea Wonfor Tynesiders and other North East folk have played a crucial role in shaping modern Britain, according to a major new book. Many northerners will see their mouth water at even the slightest thought of chips and gravy – up here it’s a classic and is widely regarded a substantial meal.At the age of 47, after 33 years down the mines, Cornish, with the great support of his wife Sarah, decided to quit the industry and concentrate on his art, with huge success. Brian Johnson It has been a humbling experience to draw up our list and be reminded of the talent the region has produced since 1919, people who are not just champions of the North, but champions of the world. Dame Catherine Cookson

things northerners do that make southerners want - Metro 10 things northerners do that make southerners want - Metro

Renowned player of the Northumbrian smallpipes and fiddle, Kathryn was actually born in Walsall to a musical family originally from Northumberland who returned to theri roots when she was seven. A multi award winning player, she is a much in demand musician Alexander ArmstrongThe whole point of chips is that they’re crispy on the outside, so why the hell do you want to make them soggy?!? Isn’t dinner what you have in the evening, not at lunch? So boring." – Abbie, Newcastle My cousin is from Manchester, do you know her? The hugely popular TV actress made her name on Coronation Street as ditzy Mavis Riley, appearing in nearly 2,000 episodes over 26 years. Her first was broadcast in August 1971 though the character appeared regularly only from 1973, where she joined veteran show actress Barbara Knox who plays Rita Fairclough in “The Kabin”. She also played Dolly Bellfield in the sitcom Dinnerladies. Paul Rodgers In 1894, he established the Parsons Marine Steam Company in Wallsend, where the 100ft Turbinia, now housed at Newcastle’s Discovery Museum, was built. Fitted with turbine machinery, it achieved speeds of 34 knots and at the naval review held in 1897 caused a sensation by travelling faster than any other vessel afloat. Perhaps his crowning achievement was the RMS Mauretania. Ant & Dec

Urban Dictionary: Northerner

Born Miriam Stern, she rose to prominence during the 1970s as an expert on health, in particular with women and children. Married for many years to award winning playwright Tom Stoppard, she penned a popular newspaper agony aunt as well as being a best-selling author, but perhaps was famous for giving out medical advice on TV and her interviews which included one in 1985 with then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who was moved to tears by the story of the end of her father’s political career in Grantham. Tony Scott An actor, comedian, screenwriter and novelist, he made his name on the macabre but extremely funny and original TV series League of Gentleman. Being referred to as a Geordie, there's nothing worse when you're actually from the Sunderland area, or just anywhere that isn't Newcastle." – John, Sunderland Campaigner Ann changed the 800-year-old Double Jeopardy law which said you can’t be tried for the same crime twice. Her inspiration was daughter Julie Hogg who was 23 when she was killed by Billy Dunlop. Dunlop was tried for murder but was acquitted after juries twice failed to reach a verdict. While serving a sentence for a separate murder, Dunlop confessed that he’d killed Julie. However, under double jeopardy, he was protected from conviction. That prompted a campaign led by Ming which drew the support of Teesside MPs and ultimately led to a change on the law. Bob Mortimer

6. Southerners are all ‘soft’

Widely regarded as one of the most prolific and influential British comedians of all-time, he became famous for his theatrical sketch as a jocular schoolmaster, known as Dr. Muffin. From 1934 to 1943, he was a prolific film star in Britain and was ranked the third highest grossing star at the British Box Office in 1938, behind George Formby and Gracie Fields. Paddy McAloon The son of a miner who became a millionaire property developer whose fortune was based on two big projects which helped transform the region. The first was Gateshead Metrocentre. The second was, of course, Newcastle United. Lauren Laverne has been announced as the new host of BBC Radio 6 Music's Breakfast Show as part of the station's schedule shake-up (Image: PA)