A smattering of Northern figures made it into the Sunday Times list of Britain’s most influential 500 people, which was published yesterday.
The newspaper carried out “exhaustive research”, in association with Debrett’s, to compile the list.
Steve Coogan
Northern stars fared best in the television category, with Steve Coogan, Last Tango in Halifax writer Sally Wainwright and presenters Ant and Dec all included, while singer Gary Barlow made the shortlist in the music category.
Manchester-born financial journalist Martin Lewis was included in the charity and campaigning category, while Sports Direct’s Mike Ashley and Morrison’s Dalton Philips featured in the retailers section.
No Northern-based industry figures made it on to the PR, marketing or advertising lists, but there was some representation in the politics list, for Wirral West MP Esther McVey and Leigh MP Andy Burnham.
BBC Sport director Barbara Slater, Peel Holdings chief executive John Whittaker, The French and L’Enclume chef Simon Rogan and Daily Mirror associate editor Kevin Maguire were others with Northern connections to appear.
The Sunday Times said that the qualifying criteria for the list was a demonstration of “outstanding qualities of influence, achievement and inspiration”.
Debrett’s appointed experts and industry leaders in each of the categories to assemble selection committees, with the committee chairmen submittng their nominations to Debrett’s for consideration.
