BBC Radio Lancashire's Graham Liver interviews Accrington Stanley's Andy Holt and Hyndburn Borough Council's Miles Parkinson about the return of Andy's civic award after a row over noise and Accrington Stanley's supporters bar.

BBC Radio Lancashire Interview With Andy Holt And Miles Parkinson

BBC Radio Lancashire's Graham Liver and Leanne Bayes welcome #AmazingAccrington Chair, Murray Dawson, to their Breakfast Show to talk about tomorrow's Soapbox Challenge.

BBC Radio Lancashire's Graham Liver and Leanne Bayes interview #AmazingAccrington's Murray Dawson

JULIE HESMONDHALGH grew up in Church, Accrington and went to Hyndburn Park, Moorhead High School and Accrington and Rossendale College.

She is an actor and writer.  Her latest book, An Actor’s Alphabet is published by Nick Hern Books. She is the proud patron of Maundy Relief.

Christmas In Accrington By Willow Rose Walsh Read By Julie Hesmondhalgh

Originally from Blackburn, STEVE PEMBERTON is an actor, comedian, director, and writer, often with his team The League of Gentlemen.

He has won multiple BAFTA awards, and his many top TV appearances include Benidorm, Doctor Who, Happy Valley, and Killing Eve.

Herbert the Crow & Suzie Magpie and the Quest for Mince Pies by Tom Hope read by Steve Pemberton

JULIE HESMONDHALGH grew up in Church, Accrington and went to Hyndburn Park, Moorhead High School and Accrington and Rossendale College.

She is an actor and writer.  Her latest book, An Actor’s Alphabet is published by Nick Hern Books.

She is the proud patron of Maundy Relief.

Christmas Lives Here read by Julie Hesmondhalgh for Maundy Grange

JODIE WHITTAKER is an English actress, who came to prominence after her breakout performance in Venus. In 2017 she made history as the thirteenth actor and first woman to play the Doctor in Doctor Who.

Born in Skelmanthorpe, North Yorkshire, she has also played leading roles as Beth Latimer in Broadchurch and Orla O’Riordan in Time.

The Lights by Hannah Ley, aged 12, St Christopher’s C of E High School read by Jodie Whittaker

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 The Heart of Winter’s Grip by Natalia Kozubinska

🗣️ Read by Suranne Jones:
Surrane was born in Greater Manchester and is an actress and writer best known for appearing in Vigil, Gentleman Jack, Doctor Foster, Scott & Bailey and Coronation Street.

📍 View this story at Accrington Market, Peel St, Accrington, BB5 1ER

🙌🏻 Prize sponsored by Accrington Market

🎧 Watch here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#NataliaKozubinska

The Heart Of Winter’s Grip By Natalia Kozubinska Read By Suranne Jones

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 The Dream by Violet Grace Whittaker, aged 8, St Anne’s St Josephs RC Primary School 

🗣️ Read by Katherine Kelly:
Katherine was born in Barnsley and comes from a theatrical family. After attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she appeared in Coronation Street as “Becky”, and won a National Television Award in 2022 for Best Serial Drama Performance. Since graduating in 2001, Katherine has worked continuously in Theatre (Royal Shakespeare Company, The National, Donmar Warehouse), Television (Cheat, Happy Valley, Mr. Selfridge, Coronation Street), Film (Dirty God, Official Secrets) and Radio (BBC 3 and 4).

📍 View this story at Extreme, 11 Water St, Accrington, BB5 6P

🙌🏻 Prize sponsored by HML Recycling

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#VioletGraceWhittaker

The Dream by Violet Grace Whittaker read by Katherine Kelly

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 Countdown by Martin Cooper

🗣️ Read by Martin Cooper:
Martin is an actor, presenter and producer who was part of the team at East Lancashire’s number-one radio station 107fm The Bee from 2006-2011. Here he recollects his times of hosting the Accrington Christmas Lights switch on events each year.

📍 View this story at 2 Sisters Cafe & Bistro, 33 Warner St, Accrington, BB5 1HN

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#MartinCooper

Countdown by Martin Cooper read by Martin Cooper

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 The Christmas Wish by Miley Greaves, aged 10, St Andrews Primary School 

🗣️ Read by Sally Dynevor

Sally Dynevor is a British actor best known for her role as Sally Metcalfe on Coronation Street, a role which she has played since 1986.

📍 View this story at OASST Accrington Stanley Shop, Arndale Centre, Accrington

🙌🏻 Prize sponsored by Roslee Construction

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#MileyGreaves

The Christmas Wish by Miley Greaves, aged 10, St Andrews Primary School read by Sally Dynevor

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 The Boy with the Perpetual Nervousness by Graham Caveney:
Graham was born and raised in Accrington.  He is the author of five books, including his critically acclaimed memoirs The Boy with the Perpetual Nervousness and On Agoraphobia.

🗣️ Read by Joe Alessi:
Joe is an Olivier award-nominated actor who was born and brought up in Accrington by his Sicilian mum and dad, Angela and Giuseppe.

📍 View this story at Clarkey’s Cafe, Blackburn Road, Accrington

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#GrahamCaveney

The Boy with the Perpetual Nervousness by Graham Caveney read by Joe Alessi

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 Hannah’s Happiest Day by Harriet Pearson, aged 11, Altham St James’ CE Primary School

🗣️ Read by Sally Carman-Duttine:
Sally is an English actor, well known for portraying the roles of Kelly Maguire in Shameless and Abi Frankin in Coronation Street.

📍 View this story at Sweet Child of Mine, 6 Peel St, Accrington BB5 1EA

🙌🏻 Prize sponsored by The Crafty Fox

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#HarrietPearson

Hannah’s Happiest Day by Harriet Pearson, aged 11, read by Sally Carman-Duttine

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 Building the World by Connor Evans

Connor is a graduate from the University of Salford’s Drama and Creative Writing course. With family ties to Accrington, he finds inspiration in the strong sense of working-class pride and identity that surrounds the town.

🗣️ Read by Connor Evans:

📍 View this story at Colin Whitcombe & Sons Jewellers, 50-54 Warner St, Accrington

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#ConnorEvans

Building the World by Connor Evans read by Connor Evans

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 My Winter Poem by Ismail Hussain, The Hollins

🗣️ Read by Muzz Khan:
Hailing from Burnley Lancashire, Muzz is an actor, comedy writer, performer and professional DJ. Quirky, uncensored, and idiosyncratic, he is quickly becoming known in the entertainment industry for the characters he has brought to life on screen. From television, film, theatre, and music, Khan proves time and time again that he can do it all.

📍 View this story at Acorns of Lancashire, 17 Whalley Rd, Accrington

🙌🏻 Prize sponsored by The Professional Football Scouts Association

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#IsmailHussain

My Winter Poem by Ismail Hussain read by Muzz Khan

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 One of Our Defenders is Sinking by David Swann

🗣️ Read by Dave Swann:
Dave was born and raised in Accrington, where he later became a reporter on the Observer, covering Stanley’s matches and interviewing people about flying saucers over the Coppice. His novella, Season of Bright Sorrow, was named Rubery Book of the Year, 2023. He learned everything he knows from the death-plank in Peel Park and a massive, terrifying horse called Dragon that dragged a rickety ice cream trolley up Water Street, past his childhood home.

📍 View this story at Shelly’s Wax Melts, 15 Peel St, Accrington, BB5 1EA

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#DaveSwann

One of Our Defenders is Sinking by Dave Swann

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 Bonfire Night Eve by Dominic Brunt

🗣️ Read by Dominic Brunt:
Dominic is an actor, director and writer, and plays Paddy in Emmerdale.  He lived in Accrington on Burnley Road from 1981 until 1991. He attended Accrington Moorhead High School. On leaving school he worked as a sheet metal worker in Great Harwood and later as a welder in Accrington.

📍 View this story at A Bit O’Summat, 9 Whalley Road , Accrington

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#DominicBrunt

Bonfire Night Eve by Dominic Brunt

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 The Lights by Abiyya Iqbal, aged 14, The Hollins

🗣️ Read by Minar Anwar:
Minar was born in Church, Accrington and is a British actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Constable Maggie Habib in The Thin Blue Line and Gita Chandra in The Sarah Janes Adventures.

📍 View this story at Space 2 Make, 70-72 Blackburn Rd, Accrington, BB5 1LE

🙌🏻 Prize sponsored by The Globe Centre

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#AbiyyaIqbal

Winter Skies by Abiyya Iqbal read by Mina Anwar

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 An Accrington Christmas by Joe Alessi

🗣️ Read by Joe Alessi:
Joe  is an Olivier award-nominated actor who was born and brought up in Accrington by his Sicilian mum and dad, Angela and Giuseppe.

📍View this story at Cafe Ri-An, 5 Stanley St, Accrington BB5 6PR

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#JoeAlessi

An Accrington Christmas By Joe Alessi read by Joe Alessi

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 I was raised in a land of mills and drizzle by David Hesmondhalgh

🗣️ David Hesmondhalgh:
David was born and raised in Accrington, taught at Accrington and Rossendale College and is now a Professor at the University of Leeds.  He has written several books including Why Music Matters.

📍View this story at Church Street Chippy, 27 Church St, Accrington

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#DavidHesmondhalgh
🎙️ Subscribe to our podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/amazing-accrington-winter-writing-trail/id1716917076

David Hesmondhalgh

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 Christmas Story by Oliver Flynn, aged 8, St John’s Stonefield CE Primary School

🗣️ Read by Dominic Brunt:
Dominic is an actor, director and writer, and plays Paddy in Emmerdale.  He lived in Accrington on Burnley Road from 1981 until 1991. He attended Accrington Moorhead High School. On leaving school he worked as a sheet metal worker in Great Harwood and later as a welder in Accrington.

📍 View this story at The Watch Workshop, 19 Peel St, Accrington

🙌🏻 Prize sponsored by Bevlan Office Interiors

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#OliverFlynn

Christmas Story by Oliver Flynn read by Dominic Brunt

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻  Billy & Jack by Ian Kershaw

🗣️ Ian Kershaw:
Ian was born and brought up in Oldham and is a writer for theatre, radio and television.  He is part of the Coronation Street writing team, and is married to an Accy Girl, whose mum introduced him to the Lancashire expression “suited to bits.”

📍View this story at Seventy Bob Barbers & Hairdressing, 7 Peel St, Accrington BB5 1EA

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#IanKershaw
🎙️ Subscribe to our podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/amazing-accrington-winter-writing-trail/id1716917076

Billy & Jack by Ian Kershaw read by Ian Kershaw

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:
✍🏻 This is Winter by Ezra Emmett, aged 13, The Hollins

🗣️ Read by Toby Jones:
Toby is widely regarded as one of the greatest stage and screen actors both in Great Britain and internationally. These include Dobby the House Elf in Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Captain America, The Detectorists, Dad’s Army, Jurassic World and many more.

📍 View this story at Croppers Butchers & Deli, 31 Blackburn Rd, Accrington
🙌🏻 Prize sponsored by Taskers of Accrington

🎧 Listen - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#EzraEmmett
🎙️ Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/amazing-accrington-winter-writing-trail/id1716917076

This is Winter by Ezra Emmett read by Toby Jones

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻  Christmas Days by Jeanette Winterson CBE

Jeanette Winterson CBE is a multi-award winning author who was brought up in Accrington.  Her first book, a semi-autobiographical novel, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, won the Whitbread Prize for Literature, and the subsequent TV adaptation, some of which was filmed in Accrington, a BAFTA. She has kindly allowed for us to include her words in the Winter Writing Trail.

🗣️ Julie Hesmondhalgh:
Julie grew up in Church, Accrington and went to Hyndburn Park, Moorhead High School and Accrington and Rossendale College. She is an actor and writer.  Her latest book, An Actor’s Alphabet is published by Nick Hern Books. She is the proud patron of Maundy Relief.

📍View this story at Angela Kay’s Beauty Salon, 46 Warner St, Accrington

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#JeanetteWinterson
🎙️ Subscribe to our podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/amazing-accrington-winter-writing-trail/id1716917076

Jeanette Winterton Read By Julie Hesmondhalgh

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 I am the Snow by Elias Ford, aged 13, The Hollins

🗣️ Read by Joe Duttine
Joe is an English film, theatre and television actor. He currently plays Tim Metcalfe in Coronation Street and is also known for his role in Shameless as Cameron Donnelly, the father of Maxine.

📍 View this story at Snowdrop Doula, Arndale Centre,

🙌🏻 Prize sponsored by Jamesons Print

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#EliasFord
🎙️ Subscribe to our podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/amazing-accrington-winter-writing-trail/id1716917076

I am the Snow by Elias Ford read by Joe Duttine

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻  Accrington Pals by Rosie Adamson-Clark 

Rosie was born in East Yorkshire to an Irish Mum and half Scots Dad. She moved to Lancashire in 1981 with a 3 month old baby.  She is a Quaker, and very proud to be an adopted Lancashire lass now. She taught at Accrington and Rossendale College from 1991 to 1997.

🗣️ Read by Rosie Adamson-Clark 

📍View this story at Lyndy Lou’s, Arndale Centre, Accrington

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#RosieAdamson
🎙️ Subscribe to our podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/amazing-accrington-winter-writing-trail/id1716917076

Accrington Pals by Rosie Adamson-Clark read by Rosie Adamson-Clark

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻 The Wind and I by Aaye Noor, aged 13, The Hollins

🗣️ Read by Jason Watkins
Jason  is an English stage, film and television actor. He played the lead role in the two-part drama The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries, for which he won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor. Jason, originally from Albrighton in Shropshire, has also featured in Being Human, Trollied, W1A, the film series Nativity, The Crown, plus much more.

📍 View this story at Specsavers, 7-8 Broadway, Accrington, BB5 1EY

🙌🏻 Prize sponsored by Stuart Nevison

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#AayeNoor
🎙️ Subscribe to our podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/amazing-accrington-winter-writing-trail/id1716917076

The Wind and I by Aaye Noor, aged 13, read by Jason Watkins

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail:

✍🏻  Christmas Lives Here by Julie Hesmondhalgh for Maundy Grange

Julie grew up in Church, Accrington and went to Hyndburn Park, Moorhead High School and Accrington and Rossendale College. She is an actor and writer.  Her latest book, An Actor’s Alphabet is published by Nick Hern Books. She is the proud patron of Maundy Relief.

🗣️ Read by Julie Hesmondhalgh

📍View this story at Maundy Relief,  Abbey St, Accrington

🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#JulieHesmondhalgh
🎙️ Subscribe to our podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/amazing-accrington-winter-writing-trail/id1716917076

Christmas Lives Here Read By Julie Hesmondhalgh

BBC Radio Lancashire's Graham Liver talks to #AmazingAccrington Chair, Murray Dawson, about the upcoming Soapbox Challenge.

Soapbox Challenge 2024 BBC Radio Lancashire's Graham Liver talks to #AmazingAccrigton's Murray Dawson

BBC Radio Lancashire's Graham Liver and Parin Begum interview NLTG's Gareth Lindsay and Amazing Accrington's Muray Dawson about this Saturday's #AmazingAccrington Soapbox Challenge.

BBC Radio Lancashire's Soapbox Preview

BBC Radio Lancashire Jess Glynne Competition Part 1

BBC Radio Lancashire Jess Glynne Competition part 2

BBC Radio Lancashire's Sharon Hartley interviews iMEP CEO, Eddy O'Brien

BBC Radio Lancashire's Graham Liver speaks to iMEP CEO, Eddy O'Brien about last Saturday's iMEP Music Festival headlined by Jess Glynne.

BBC Radio Lancashire - Graham Liver interview iMEP CEO, Eddy O'Brien

iMEP CEO, Eddy O'Brien and Amazing Accrington's Murray Dawson visit BBC Radio Lancashire to speak to Graham Liver and Leanne Bayes about the launch of the two-day iMEP Music Festival 2025.

iMEP Music Festival 2025: iMEP CEO. Eddy O'Brien talks to BBC Radio Lancashire's Graham Live

iMEP CEO Eddy O'Brien joins BBC Radio Lancashire's Graham Liver and Leanne Bayes for a special Big Lancashire Cheese announcement. 

Popular tracks by #AmazingAccrington