Who were Yorkshire’s winners and losers in 2015?

2015 has been a memorable year for people based in Yorkshire and those with connections to the county - but one to forget for others. Here we examine some of this year’s winners and losers.
Great British Bake off winner Nadiya Hussain. Photographer: Mark BourdillonGreat British Bake off winner Nadiya Hussain. Photographer: Mark Bourdillon
Great British Bake off winner Nadiya Hussain. Photographer: Mark Bourdillon

GOOD YEAR

Michael O’Hare

The chef won a Michelin star for his diner, The Man Behind The Curtain, on Vicar Lane in Leeds. It was the new entry from Yorkshire in this year’s Michelin guide. He is familiar to viewers from the BBC series The Great British Menu.

Nadiya Hussain

The popular winner of the Great British Bake-Off, who was living in Leeds, enjoyed her success in front of a record television audience of 13 million. She has said that her unexpected victory has changed her life.

Sally Wainwright

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The Bafta-winning screenwriter still has strong ties to her home county and has become one of television’s most in-demand writers. A lifelong fan of the Brontes, Wainwright was thrilled this year to work on a drama about the difficult life of the family.

Sally Wainwright accepts the award for Writer: Drama at the British Academy Television Craft Awards in 2015Sally Wainwright accepts the award for Writer: Drama at the British Academy Television Craft Awards in 2015
Sally Wainwright accepts the award for Writer: Drama at the British Academy Television Craft Awards in 2015

Daisy Campbell

At the age of just 12, Daisy Campbell, of Methley, continues to be a rising star of acting. She has been playing Amelia Spencer in Emmerdale. A winner at the Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards in the Achievement in the Arts category.

Simon Armitage

The Marston-born bard was elected Oxford Professor of Poetry this year. Made a 260-mile journey through Somerset and on to the Scilly Isles, capturing it in a new book, called Walking Away - Further travels with a Troubadour on the South West Coast Path.

Daisy Campbell won the Achievement in the Arts award at the Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards 2015. Picture Bruce Rollinson.Daisy Campbell won the Achievement in the Arts award at the Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards 2015. Picture Bruce Rollinson.
Daisy Campbell won the Achievement in the Arts award at the Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards 2015. Picture Bruce Rollinson.

Nicola Adams

Adams this year became a reigning Olympic, Commonwealth and European champion at flyweight. Recovered from complicated shoulder surgery to beat Sandra Drabik and win gold at the European Games, calling herself a “comeback kid”.

BAD YEAR

Jeremy Clarkson

Poet Simon Armitage. Picture: Chris Lawton.Poet Simon Armitage. Picture: Chris Lawton.
Poet Simon Armitage. Picture: Chris Lawton.
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The BBC announced in March that it would not renew the Doncaster-born broadcaster’s contract after he verbally and physically attacked a Top Gear producer. The incident took place over a dispute at a hotel while filming on location.

Massimo Cellino

There has been trouble inside and outside of football for the Leeds United owner. He has had to face disgruntlement from Leeds United supporters, on top of issues with the Football League, and a second conviction in Italy for tax evasion.

Zayn Malik

The Bradford-born singer apologised to fans after his departure from One Direction was announced in March. It meant that the boy band were left to continue with four members. Malik had been with the group for five years.

Natalie Anderson

Olympic Boxing Gold Medalist Nicola Adams received her Honorary Doctor of Laws, at Leeds University. Picture by Simon HulmeOlympic Boxing Gold Medalist Nicola Adams received her Honorary Doctor of Laws, at Leeds University. Picture by Simon Hulme
Olympic Boxing Gold Medalist Nicola Adams received her Honorary Doctor of Laws, at Leeds University. Picture by Simon Hulme

After five years on Emmerdale, playing Alicia Gallagher, the actress made the tough and emotional decision to depart in the autumn. Bradford-born Anderson felt that she was missing out on being a mum to her three-year-old son Freddie.