I was a bit shocked by 'breezy's' insensitive comments above. Although I happen to live in the North I think that an Essex accent (or an East End of London one for that matter) is just as valid, and worthy of valuing and conserving, as Geordie or Lancashire.

A couple of years ago a friend of mine, who was brought up in Essex, was criticised for singing traditional songs in an Essex accent. What was she supposed to do - sing them in some sort of parody of Geordie or Scots? This is a peculiar sort of inverse snobbery. Whereas a couple of generations ago kids in Manchester or Leeds were chided, or even 'clipped around the ear', for adopting their native tongue, nowadays Mancunian and West Yorkshire accents are seen as some sort of noble 'badge of authenticity'. Whereas certain southern accents are looked down upon. Silly really, diversity is (or should be) the 'spice of life'!