As well all know, the Yorkshire accent is categorically the best of all northern accents. For anyone who wants to argue, let us point you to this recent study, where the Yorkshire accent was voted the most trustworthy in the UK
However, now new research from the Universities of Portsmouth and Cambridge has suggested that northern accents are at risk and could potentially die out completely within 45 years. Ey up?
Using physics modelling, university researchers mapped out how they thought northern accents will look by 2066 - and the results are rather shocking.
Research showed that much loved northern accents, such as the dry Yorkshire accent, the friendly Geordie and the instantly recognisable Liverpudlian accent, could be replaced by ‘posh’ south eastern pronunciations as soon as 2066.
And that's not all - pronunciation isn't the only thing that's predicted to change.
Some words, it was found, are disappearing across the country altogether - such as 'backend', used to describe autumn in the north, and 'fall' which is used similarly in the south.
That said, it seems that some north-south differences are likely to remain.
For example, 'strut’, (which currently rhymes with ‘foot’ in northern England), is expected to stop rhyming by 2066, whilst it's predicted we'll still be disagreeing on the correct pronounciation of 'bath' across the country for some time.
"In about 1900, almost everybody said "thawing" pronounced "thaw-wing", but the majority of people now pronounce the words "thawing" with an intrusive "r", which means it sounds like "thaw-ring". Our model predicts this change happened over about 25 years," said researcher Dr Burridge.
"We found that the word has changed because it was tricky to pronounce and children are more likely to pick up the easier pronunciation. This then becomes the norm."
"However, it hasn't changed everywhere yet because some major cities like Leeds and Manchester have rejected the change."
As well as comparing data from two prior dialect surveys, namely the Survey of English dialects (SED) and the English dialect app (EDA), SED researchers also interviewed a large number of older people to get a good picture of that generations dialects.
50,000 English speakers were also asked questions via an app regarding their use of language by EDA.
This information was then used to compile the models which have since suggested that northern accents could die out within 45 years.
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Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
Yorkshire-set Christmas film by Leeds director starring Richard E. Grant set to hit UK cinemas next month
Clementine Hall
A brand-new Christmas film is hitting cinemas nationwide next month - and it’s a proper Leeds success story.
Jack Spring directed his first feature film at just 19 years old and has spent the last decade carving out a career in independent film, as well as co-founding Leeds-based production company Shush Films.
His first movie, Destination: Dewsbury, was shot just down the road in - you guessed it - Dewsbury. And after moving to Leeds from Grimsby, Jack became determined to build his business from the city, putting down roots and growing his production company here.
Image: Supplied
Now, after years of working on independent projects, Jack has taken his biggest leap yet with a brand-new Christmas film, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint.
Set in Yorkshire, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint follows Aubrey Flint, a reclusive model soldier painter with a lifelong hatred of Christmas, who is sentenced to community service at Willow Lodge - a retirement home on the brink of closure.
Roped into helping with a chaotic production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Aubrey clashes with its interesting set of residents...
And the cast is about as star-studded as it gets, featuring Richard E. Grant, John Bradley, Celia Imrie, Adjoa Andoh, Sophia Di Martino, Adrian Rawlins and Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
Image: Supplied
The heartwarming festive comedy will hit cinemas nationwide on Friday 6 November - a huge milestone for a Leeds-based director and production company, taking a homegrown Yorkshire story to audiences across the country.
You just can't beat a proper wholesome British Christmas film, so you can best believe we'll be watching in the cinema, popcorn in hand.
Georgina Pellant -
29th July 2021 
