Unveiled: top 10 favourites revealed
Jan 7 2008 by Graeme Whitfield, The Journal
GRACE Darling, Robbie Williams and Jonny Wilkinson are among the North-East’s favourites, a Journal poll has revealed.
Two months ago, The Journal began a survey to find the region’s top 10s in a range of fields, with experts including Peter Beardsley, Tim Healy and Denise Welch, and Lindisfarne drummer Ray Laidlaw choosing their favourites.
Hundreds of votes have since come in from readers around the region, with the battle to be named top Northerner proving to be the most hotly contested.
After the votes were tallied, Northumbrian lifeboat heroine Grace Darling just beat off a challenge from railway pioneers George and Robert Stephenson to win the crown.
Yesterday Tony Walton, manager at the Grace Darling Museum, in Bamburgh, Northumberland, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic, especially when we have just opened the new museum.
“The news comes after the recent storms we have had off the coast over the last few days which re-emphasises just what a fantastic lady she was and what a fantastic thing she did.
“We are delighted she has been voted number one. The youngsters are learning about her because it’s in the National Curriculum for Year Two, we have had a lot of children over the past two weeks visiting us which is marvellous.”
In the entertainers category, fans of Robbie Williams from around the world somehow caught on to The Journal’s poll, with votes for the former Take That singer coming in from as far afield as Italy, Belgium and Germany.
A winner closer to home was Jonny Wilkinson, whose 2003 World Cup winning drop goal was voted the best ever sporting moment, narrowly beating England’s Ashes triumph in 2005 and the football World Cup win of 1966. National triumphs figured highly in the sporting moment top 10, with votes from Newcastle United fans split between a number of memorable moments – Alan Shearer’s testimonial and the Champions League triumph over Barcelona beating the 1969 Fairs Cup and trio of FA Cup wins in the 50s – while Sunderland’s FA Cup triumph of 1973 only made it to Number Nine.
Fans of The Beatles have double cause for celebration, with the band being named top musical act and having the North-East’s favourite song in Hey Jude.
The Simpsons was judged the region’s favourite television series and The Shawshank Redemption – the 1994 film based on a short story be Stephen King – was the top movie.
Other winners included the Harry Potter series, which was chosen as the region’s favourite books and top actor was Clint Eastwood.
While Jesse Owens’ quadruple gold medal haul in the 1936 Munich Olympics saw him pip Muhammed Ali to top spot in the sporting star category.
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Entertainers
2. Billy Connolly.
3. Ant and Dec.
4. Morecambe and Wise.
5. Charlie Chaplin.
6. Stephen Sondheim.
7 Tommy Cooper.
8. Ross Noble.
9. Mozart.
10. Vera Lynn.
Films
2. The Sound of Music.
3. The Likely Lads.
4. Braveheart.
5. Annie Hall.
6. It’s a Wonderful Life.
7. Pulp Fiction.
8. Withnail and I.
9. Gregory’s Girl.
10. The African Queen.
Northerners
2. George and Robert Stephenson.
3. The Venerable Bede.
4. Lord Armstrong.
5. Catherine Cookson.
6. Lord Collingwood.
7. Captain Cook.
8. Alan Shearer.
9. Capability Brown.
10. Mike Neville.
Sporting moment
2. England’s Ashes win in 2005.
3. England winning the World Cup in 1966.
4. Steve Redgrave makes Olympic history with gold medals in five successive Games.
5. Brendan Foster breaking the 3,000 metre world record at Gateshead in 1974.
6. England beating Germany 5-1 in Munich.
7. Botham’s Ashes.
8. Alan Shearer’s testimonial.
9. Sunderland win the FA Cup in 1973.
10. Newcastle beat Barcelona 3-2 in the Champions League.
Sports stars
2. Muhammed Ali.
3. Jackie Milburn.
4. Pele.
5. Alan Shearer.
6. Jonny Wilkinson.
7. Don Bradman.
8. Sir Garfield Sobers.
9. Tiger Woods.
10. Sir Bobby Robson.
Bands/singers
2. Robbie Williams.
3. Oasis.
4. The Rolling Stones.
5. REM.
6. Aretha Franklin.
7. Harry Nilsson.
8. David Bowie.
9. Otis Redding.
10. The Beach Boys.
Songs
2. Fog on the Tyne, Lindisfarne.
3. Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys.
4. London Calling, The Clash.
5. The Way You Look Tonight, Peter Skellern.
6. Suspicious Minds, Elvis Presley.
7. Going Home (the theme from Local Hero), Mark Knopfler.
8. Dancing Queen, Abba.
9. Romeo and Juliet, Dire Straits.
10. When Love Breaks Down, Prefab Sprout.
Actors
2. Richard Burton.
3. James Bolam.
4. Laurence Olivier.
5. George Clooney.
6. Jack Nicholson.
7. Judi Dench.
8. Maggie Smith.
9. Ivana Baquero.
10. Thora Hird.
TV programmes
1. The Simpsons.
2. Yes Minister.
3. The Morecambe and Wise Show.
4. Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
5. Coronation Street.
6. Father Ted.
7. Boys From The Blackstuff.
8. EastEnders.
9. Cheers.
10. The Shield.
Books
1. Harry Potter series, JK Rowling.
2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen.
3. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy.
4. Collected Short Stories, Raymond Carver.
5. Tess of the D’Urbevilles, Thomas Hardy.
6. Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkein.
7. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams.
8. The Sun Also Rises (Fiesta), Ernest Hemingway.
9. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens.
10. Atonement, Ian McEwan.
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