TRIBUTE: A true stroke of cheeky genius

When Mike Neville and George House came up with the hilarious '˜Larn Yesel Geordie' sketch Geordie sub-culture was really born.

I doubt When the Boat Comes In would have been possible, nor the pop group Lindisfarne would ever have been as successful without Mike Neville and George House turning regional accents into a subject we were all allowed to see on television.

As the representative of the BBC locally, Mike Neville had credibility.

He gave credibility to Geordie sub-culture behind the mask of a cheeky grin. It was utter genius.

We shall not see his like again.

Nigel Boddy,

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