I do enjoy hearing a regional accent, and perhaps flatter myself that I can generally place them geographically, to the extent that I can differentiate between a Yorkshire and a Lancashire one. For myself, although I've moved around a lot, I still retain a trace of my North-eastern roots. Think Kevin Whateley. I won't say Vera, as talented actress though she is, Brenda Blethyn doesn't quite come across as a native North-easterner. Also, although her home ground is set as Lindisfarne, her adopted accent for the part has more Tyneside Geordie than Northumbrian about it, as there is a subtle difference as any local will tell you.