International Women's Day: Five inspiring North East women

Here are five famous faces from Northumberland who have gone on to have successful careers and inspire millions.

Vick Hope

Radio presenter Vick Hope (Image: Supplied)

Vick Hope, born in Newcastle and whose family live near Hexham, attended Dame Allan's Schools in Newcastle between 2000 and 2007.

Vick moved to Minsteracres with her family when she was young, and from there she has gone on to create a big name for herself.

She rose to stardom by starring alongside Roman Kemp on Captial FM's Breakfast Show, and her stock rose when she participated in Strictly Come Dancing in 2018.

She joined BBC Radio 1 in 2020 as co-host of Radio 1’s Life Hacks on Sundays, a show dedicated to open and frank discussion about issues affecting young people.

Alongside this, she joined BBC's The Official Chart: First Look, a Sunday evening show providing the earliest possible glance at the Official Singles Chart for the following week. 

In 2021, Vick took over hosting duties of Radio 1's Going Home show, co-hosting the drivetime programme alongside Jordan North.

Vick is also well-known for her work as a human rights activist and Amnesty International Ambassador.

Rosie Ramsay

Chris Ramsey and Rosie Ramsay arrives for the National Television Awards at the O2 Arena, London (Image: PA)

Podcaster, author and television presenter Rosie Ramsey is best known to millions for her comedy podcast, which she co-hosts with her husband Chris, and has won a number of awards.

Rosie's career included working as a blue coat at Pontins, plus as an announcer at Newcastle Racecourse, and also hosted radio shows on Capital FM in the North East.

In November 2021, the BBC comissioned a new chat show, hosted by the Ramseys, and titled The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show. 

The pair moved to Northumberland in 2021.

Lynsey Elliot

Lynsey Elliott (Image: Supplied)

Lynsey Elliot, co-director of Elliott Architects with husband Ben which is based at Battle Hill in Hexham, was educated at the prestigious Mackintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow.

Two examples of Elliott Architects' work are the Dell in Morpeth and North Bank in Haydon Bridge.

In recent years, Elliott Architects has won a slew of awards – it was a double winner at the RIBA Awards in both 2016 and 2018, Overall Winner at the Environment Awards in 2017, and Highly Commended for Newcastle’s Earl Grey House at the RICS Awards in 2018.

The practice was also named as one of the 25 best architectural practices by Elle Decoration in November 2020.

In Feburary this year, it was shortlisted in two categories of the RIBA regional awards. The business' project on the grade II listed Percy Cottage in Morpeth was shortlisted for the RIBA North East Awards 2024.

Elliott Architects was then shortlisted for the RIBA Yorkshire Awards for its Dales Stand project in Catterick, Yorkshire.

Dame Irene Hays

Dame Irene Hays (Image: Hays Travel)

Born in Northumberland, Dame Irene Hays' career took her to the corridoors of Whitehall in London, where she worked as the Director General for Local Government and Regeneration, then Permanent Secretary in the Department of Local Government and Communities.

Elsewhere, Dame Irene also held positions as Chief Executive of both Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Council.

Today, Dame Irene is known nationwide as the owner and Director of Hays Travel. In 1980, her late husband, John Hays, began to sell holidays and Dame Irene joined him to run the company when she left central Government.

In 2019 Hays Travel acquired travel agents from Thomas Cook - saving thousands of jobs. Hays Travel is the UK’s largest independent travel agent, with a HQ in Sunderland.

Dame Irene has also held roles on the boards of the BBC and Sport England, along with The Football Foundation, plus the Department for Education.

Kate Adie

Kate Adie, a journalist, is known as a feminist and specifically as a war zone reporter.

She was chief news correspondent for BBC News between 1989 and 2003, during which time she reported from war zones around the world.

She was the duty reporter one evening in May 1980 and was first on the scene when the Special Air Service (SAS) went in to break up the Iranian Embassy siege.

She reported live and unscripted to one of the largest news audiences ever while crouched behind a car door.

She was then dispatched to report on conflicts including The Troubles in Ireland, the American bombing of Tripoli in 1986 and the Lockerbie bombing of 1988.

She retired from the BBC in early 2003 and works as a freelance presenter on Radio 4.