Inspiration for Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

Tucked into a loop of the broad-flowing Tees, the landscape around Barnard Castle does not look like the setting for cruelty or violence. It's a beautiful market town in a stunning setting. However, in Victorian England, reports of abuse in cheap Yorkshire boarding schools catering for unwanted - often illegitimate - children, started to spread .

It is not surprising then that Charles Dickens turned his attention to the deplorable conditions common in these institutions, denouncing them as examples of "the monstrous neglect of education in England". He must have read about the trial of Shaw’s Academy in Bowes and its headmaster, William Shaw, who had been convicted of negligence against some boys in his care some years earlier. Dickens set off to research the story for his novel Nicholas Nickleby, the story-line of which had been agreed in advance with his publisher. The novel was to serve as a vehicle for exposing the dreadful conditions in the Yorkshire schools.

Depend upon it, that the rascalities of Yorkshire schoolmaters cannot be easily exaggerated, and that I have kept down the strong truth and thrown as much comicality over it as I could.

Charles Dickens on his finished novel Nicholas Nickleby

The poor people up North

My friend told me that he took a pile of clothes to the charity shop in Henley or Ascot. He wasn't sure if they were good enough quality to sell and explained this to the woman.

"Oh, don't worry" she said "if they are not good enough, we will send them to the poor people up North".

Well I hope there were plenty of T shirts. Favoured outfit of geordie boys, in winter with their "tabs" (cigarettes) rolled up in the sleeve.

Old Durham Town

"I got off at Durham... and fell in love with it instantly in a serious way. Why, it's wonderful - a perfect little city.... If you have never been to Durham, go there at once. Take my car. It's wonderful." Bill Bryson

I grew up in Durham, a beautiful historic city and home to the world class university. However, as a teenager I thought it was exceptionally selfish of my parents to have moved to a place with just two nightclubs and an aptly named pub called the “Fighting Cocks”. However, I remember driving back home one Christmas from university and saw the stunningly beautiful cathedral and castle lit up against the night sky and realised how privileged I was to call this home.

My talented best friend

I am very proud of my bestest mate from school (Durham Sixth Form Centre), Helen Austin. Helen spent 20 years performing as a successful musical stand-up comedian, regularly headlining the Comedy Store in London.

Though it was disconcerting when the start of her comedy set began with "my best friend..." Also something naughty I told her ended up in her book "Women Behaving Badly".

She and her lovely family selfishly moved to Canada in 2002, where she has established herself as a successful singer/ song writer.I genuinely love listening to her music and religiously listen to her song of the week.

North Eastern men do banter best

One of the things I am most proud of being  a North Eastern lass is the sense of humour of our men. Where ever I have gone in the world, if I hear that accent...I know I am going to have a hilarious evening.

Ant & Dec often feature in my dreams. Not like that...they are just around. I think because they are so similar to the kind of male friends I had growing up in Durham: funny, easy going and always keep your feet on the ground. A few I am still in touch with and they can still make me laugh with their cheeky one liners. You can't get pretentious or precious around Northern blokes, they will just tease you and I love them for it.

A case in point. I like getting "thought for the day" emailed to me. You know the kind of thing:  "Plant seeds of peace now and you will create a life of peace in the future."  One day, I thought I would share this spiritual wisdom with some friends, in order to enrich their lives, so emailed it on. The response from my Northern friend Paul:  "What was that reet pile of gobshite Blakey? Look lass, get ower yersel, we knaa where you came from."   Straight to the jugular.

In second place on good banter come the Welsh boys and the Scots.

Lyrics that remind me of Mum

I had a complicated relationship with my mother, it was full of conflict and love. We lost her to cancer in April 2007. She was an extrordinary woman and has left a big gap in our lives.

When I heard this poignant song by Christina Aguilera...I couldn't believe how near to the bone the lyrics were.


I have picked out the lines that really hit home.

Seems like it was yesterday when I saw your face...
...If only I knew what I know today, ooh, ooh

I would hold you in my arms; I would take the pain away
Thank you for all you've done, forgive all your mistakes
There's nothing I wouldn't do to hear your voice again
Sometimes I wanna call you but I know you won't be there
I'm sorry for blaming you
For everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself by hurting you
Some days I feel broke inside but I won't admit
Sometimes I just wanna hide 'cause it's you I miss
And it's so hard to say goodbye when it comes to this, ooh
Would you tell me I was wrong? Would you help me understand?
Are you looking down upon me? Are you proud of who I am?
There's nothing I wouldn't do to have just one more chance
To look into your eyes and see you looking back
Oh, I'm sorry for blaming you
For everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself, oh

If I had just one more day
I would tell you how much that I've missed you
Since you've been away