Local Heroes Co-Founder, Dan Prince, Highlights Power of Storytelling at English Tourism Week Event
As English Tourism Week continues, a special event at The Common Room shone a spotlight on the growing importance of storytelling in shaping the North East’s visitor economy — with Local Heroes co-founder Dan Prince taking a seat at the heart of the conversation.
Dan Prince was invited to join an expert panel following a watch party for Neven Maguire’s English Food Tour, an RTÉ One series celebrating the region’s food, people and landscapes. The event brought together key voices from across film, television and the food and drink sector to explore how these industries are helping attract new audiences to the North East.
Alongside Katie Strachan (North East Screen), David Hare (InProduction TV) and NGI’s Ian Thomas MBE, Prince shared his perspective on why telling authentic, local stories remains as relevant and important as ever.
“It was a pleasure to sit on the panel to discuss how film can benefit the region in food, drink and tourism,” he said. “There are so many great people doing great things. Local Heroes and FADNE are proud to help share their stories and put them on the map.”
The discussion highlighted how the North East is increasingly gaining recognition on screen, from food and travel programmes to major productions like 28 Years Later. But at the core of this growing visibility, Prince emphasised, are the real people and communities behind those stories.
Through projects such as the Taste of Northumberland campaign and community-led initiatives like Hands on The Wheel and Breaking Bread, Local Heroes continues to focus on amplifying voices from across the region - celebrating the individuals and ideas that define it.
As the North East’s profile continues to rise, the message from the panel was clear: while film and food can draw attention, it is authentic storytelling rooted in real people and places that truly connects with audiences and inspires visitors to experience the region for themselves.