An edition of the Tyne Tees Television programme investigating topics affecting life in the North East. In this episode three of the region multi-millionaires, John Elliott, Duncan Bannatyne and Gordon Gibb, are asked if they are the tip of the iceberg of the super-rich living in the region? Title: Northern Eye. The Rich List A black and white photograph featuring a young Gordon Sumner aka Sting followed by a montage of archive footage featuring the Wallsend area and of Sting himself in the...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television programme investigating topics affecting life in the North East. In this episode three of the region multi-millionaires, John Elliott, Duncan Bannatyne and Gordon Gibb, are asked if they are the tip of the iceberg of the super-rich living in the region? Title: Northern Eye. The Rich List A black and white photograph featuring a young Gordon Sumner aka Sting followed by a montage of archive footage featuring the Wallsend area and of Sting himself in the region. Sitting in a recording studio he says that he owes the region a lot and comes back to do what he can. A luxury car dealership with Rolls Royce, Ferrari and other named vehicles for sale. Designer jewellery changes to a private jet being taxied onto a runway and a look inside. The faces of three of the region multi-millionaires, John Elliott, Duncan Bannatyne and Gordon Gibb and the question the programme asking, ‘are they the tip of the iceberg?’ A montage of Tyneside including Angel of the North and Gateshead’s Millennium Bridge changes to a Maserati car on the forecourt of Bentley Newcastle motor dealership. Gordon Gibb, Theme Park Operator and Stacey Hall from One North East talk about a hidden class of super-rich. Standing beside a paddock with one of his racehorses inside, businessman John Elliott talks about how much he paid for his animal. Multi-millionaire Duncan Bannatyne walking through one of his gym before speaking with a woman on his mobile phone about his calendar of events. He sits at is desk at home using a computer changing to someone using a running machine inside one of his health-clubs. Views around one of his two homes that is up for sale on the Wynyard estate near Stockton-on-Tees. Duncan conducts a tour of his second home talking about his family. He explains why he has remained in the Northeast. In the pouring rain Duncan drives along a road in his Mercedes-Benz with personalised registration ‘23D’. As he drives around Wynyard, he explains that he isn’t into flash cars and that he believes people have preconceived ideas of how rich people live. Over views around his family home, he talks about why he lives such a modest lifestyle. Photographs of a villa in the south of France with him explaining that he also owns this property as an example of something he spends his money on, so he and his family get the benefit from. He continues to talk about why he has raised his profile to become more known and the benefit that have come from it. He concludes by saying that people in London know nothing about the northeast. Another montage featuring the Tyne Bridge, the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and the Sage Gateshead along the River Tyne changes to a second montage featuring both Graham Wylie and Tom Maxwell, founder of software company SAGE. Stacey Hall from One North East explains the importance of individuals such as these in the region as they are strong role models to promote a positive image of the northeast, as well as those already living in the region to show they could also be successful. A bedroom or suite at Seaham Hall Hotel and Spa changes to tables inside the Michelin star restaurant. More views around the hotel recently sold by Tom Maxwell and a woman enjoying a cocktail and others relaxing by the hotel’s indoor pool. Stacey Hall believes there are around 7000 people in the region who early upwards of £100,000 a year as well as those who run successful businesses and accumulated a lot of wealth. A Mercedes-Benz and Porsche on the forecourt of Bentley Newcastle motor dealership, inside a salesman breaks down the specifics of a Bentley available to buy for £145,000. A montage of other luxury vehicles for sale inside this showroom including a Mercedes-McLaren which has been sold for £260,000. Paul Gudge from Bentley Newcastle talks about the increase in size of the luxury car market in the region and in how much people are willing to spend, as he talks more Bentley vehicles parked outside the main showroom. Paul then provides details of how much some of the cars he sells are worth and about the type of people who buy from him. The first part of the episode with a montage featuring a luxury car, private aircraft interior and County Durham’s secret millionaire John Elliott with his racing horse. Title: Northern Eye. The Rich List An aircraft hanger at Durham-Tees Valley Airport and a private jet being pulled out onto the runway. Onboard George Ditchburn from Northern Aviation provides details on the jet which is in the top-end of the market and is indicative of the kind of aircraft likely to be seen in the region more and more. In the cockpit pilot Craig McLeod also from Northern Aviation talks about the type of aircraft it is which would cost around £20 million to buy new, as he talks views around the cabin. Craig goes onto explain that Northern Aviation doesn’t own any planes like this, but they would like to have one. Back in the main cabin George Ditchburn talks about the costs involved in running a private aviation company and explains a typical charter from the region to London would be between £2500 and £3000. Currently, George explains, supply is outstripping demand in private charters. One of the youngest multi-millionaires in the region 32-year-old Gordon Gibb steps out of his Roll-Royce and poses for the camera. Back in his vehicle he drives along North Yorkshire roads changing to him with a man and woman at Flamingo Land theme park and zoo in North Yorkshire which he owns and runs. In hardhats they watch as one of parks rides speeds past changing to him talking about his appearance on the Sunday Times Rich List after being Chairman of Bradford City. He is asked about how accurate the Rich List is with regards his wealth, he says from a commercial point of view it is fairly accurate at £45 million. At a racing stable Melanie Wood, one of Gordon Gibbs two sisters, watches her racehorse in training. According to Grazia magazine Gordon’s two sisters are the 10th richest woman under 40 in the United Kingdom. As her horse Max is brought back to the stable, she explains it was a gift from her husband. Sitting at a table Gordon and wife Victoria look over and discuss plans for a gymnasium. He doesn’t think he spends his money on things any differently than most people, just on a bigger scale. As he talks views around his North Yorkshire home. Victoria Gibb concurs with many of the comments made by Gordon, they live a very ordinary life, they just have the money to do the extra things. Inside one on Newcastle’s first million-pound apartments, Duncan Young from Sanderson Young Estate Agents gives a tour of Loft Nine inside The Turnbull building pointing out some if its unique features. Duncan explains that demand for luxury properties such as these rose by an additional fourteen sales, the best years since they started trading. He provides details of why sales in luxury properties are on the increase. At his farm near Bishop Auckland in County Durham, northeast secret multi-millionaire John Elliott, founder, and chairman of Ebac, poses for the camera. He walks into a field of sheep carrying a bag of feed. Sitting inside George says that wealth isn’t something that defines a person. He is asked what he is worth, he states he doesn’t know and says that once you’ve gotten past a million its irrelevant. Beside a paddock John talks about his one expensive hobby, owning eight racehorses. He doesn’t know how much he spends each year on horse racing, in the region of £100,000 he believes. The programme comes to an end with both Gordon Gibbs and John Elliott believing there are many more multi-millionaires in the region, but with much lower profiles than them. Credit: Camera Georgina Kiedrowski Sound Chris Corner, Dave Venus Archive Researcher Gillian Robinson Graphics Dave Richardson Sound Post-production The Edge Picture Editor Peter Telford Executive Producer Graeme Thompson, Dee Marshall Series Producer Mary Wimpress Producer/Director Wendy Homewood © ITV Tyne Tees 2008 End credit: Really Good Productions for ITV