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Stephen Dilley

@stephenjdilley.bsky.social
435 followers 360 following 635 posts

English teacher & HoD, bookworm, UKLA Book Awards team, Branford Boase Awards 2026 judge, Just Imagine reviewer, primary school governor and very amateur musician. All views my own.

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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Pretty happy with this shortlist: four out of my top six made it, plus my runner-up (and none of my least favourites!) Especially delighted for Elizabeth Strout - I'd love this to be the year she finally wins! Stuart and James also strong contenders to make this a double win.
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
See below for these phenomenal longlists - it was a pleasure to be involved in choosing them and we can’t wait to see what all our teacher judges will make of them!
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
I am eagerly awaiting Tuesday's #BookerPrize2026 shortlist announcement, having read the entire longlist. It promised to be 'weird' and certainly delivered, but included some great books I wouldn't have read otherwise! These would be my shortlist picks (with Black Bag only just missing out).
The Things We Never Say
The Renovation
John of John
The Disappearers
Switzy
May We Feed the King
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
So wonderful to be at the Longsight Library in Manchester to launch the 2027 UKLA Book Awards with this year’s amazing teacher judges - watch this space for Tuesday’s longlist announcement! @uklitassociation.bsky.social @lyndajgraham.bsky.social @joyisreading.bsky.social @lockwoodcm.bsky.social
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Books for Keeps, the children's books review journal @booksforkeeps.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Out now! Our September issue #BfK280. Authorgraph interview David Solomons, Windows into Illustration Carly Gledhill, 20 years of Lulu, Guy Bass & David Roberts interview, NEW Beyond the Secret Garden, NEW insights into reading for pleasure & much more, inc new book reviews #KidLitUK bit.ly/4rfrQtp
The cover of the UK's children's book review journal, Books for Keeps September 2026 issue, no. 280. Cover features illustration from Guy Bass and David Roberts' new book THE WORST THING THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN.
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UKLA @uklitassociation.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
This month's #UKLALucky13 #giveaway is Kitty and Mary! 6 months after Pride and Prejudice, discover the lives and loves of the other Bennet sisters! RT for the chance to win a copy! @imogenrw.bsky.social @thisisjuliagray.bsky.social
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
RIP Wendell Berry - a poet of such wonder and grace. Like many, I suspect, I first came to love his work through The Peace of Wild Things, but this poem from last year spoke to me very deeply.
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
A highlight of every year: two days of impassioned debate as we selected our four longlists for the UKLA Book Awards. The books we have chosen represent the very best writing for young people today - watch this space for the longlist announcements in September! @uklitassociation.bsky.social
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Branford Boase Award @branfordboaseaward.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Excellent interview with #BranfordBoaseAward winner Asli Jensen - thank you @alcs.co.uk #KidLitUK www.alcs.co.uk/news/intervi...
alcs.co.uk
Interview with Asli Jensen, Branford Boase winner
Asli Jensen won the 2026 Branford Boase Award for Love on Sight, her debut novel, which follows two teenagers from different cultural and religious backgrounds growing up on a London estate. The award...
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UKLA @uklitassociation.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
This month's #lucky13th giveaway is Traitors' Nest. This brand new spellbinding fantasy from award winning Frances Hardinge is original & beautifully told. It features 9 stunning illustrations by Nick Hayes. 5 copies available for UKLA members who repost #TraitorsNest #giveaway
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
This really is an excellent sequel, and it’s such a pleasure to be reviewing for @booksforkeeps.bsky.social! Many congratulations to Janeen and to @guppybooks.bsky.social
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Andrea Reece @reeceandrea.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
And now there are two! Congratulations Janeen Hayat and @guppybooks.bsky.social on publication of EVIE AND MARYAM'S LITTLE LIES and thanks for the lovely launch. New 5* review in @booksforkeeps.bsky.social by new reviewer @stephenjdilley.bsky.social #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/evie-...
The covers of Evie and Maryam's Family Tree by Janeen Hayat and her new book Evie and Maryam's Little Lies which is out now. Both published by Guppy Books.
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
It was such an honour (and a joy) to judge this award - congratulations to Asli and Shalini on your very well-deserved win for the remarkable Love On Sight, and to all the shortlisted & longlisted authors and editors!
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Branford Boase Award @branfordboaseaward.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Congratulations to Asli Jensen & her editor Shalini Vallepur, 2026 Branford Boase Award winners for outstanding debut novel for young people with LOVE ON SIGHT @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social. Thank you to supporters @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social & @alcs.co.uk branfordboaseaward.org.uk/2026-winners/
Photograph of editor Shalini Vallepur and author Asli Jensen holding their Branford Boase Award trophies. The Branford Boase Award is supported by Walker Books and ALCS and was set up in memory of author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase of Walker Books who both died in 2000. It is awarded to author and editor of the year's outstanding debut novel for children/young people.
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
I only predicted one correctly (Strout - delighted she has been included) and have read and enjoyed three others (Perry, Riley, Goodman). Looking forward to exploring the rest - have just picked up a copy of The End of Everything so will read that next!
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Very excited about next Tuesday's #BookerPrize2026 longlist announcement. Here are 13 books I've read in the last year which I hope will make it - there were so many great titles to choose from.
The Daffodil Days - Helen Bain
The Newer World - Sebastian Barry
I Want You To Be Happy - Jem Calder
Other People's Children - Ben Faccini
Mare - Emily Haworth-Booth
About to Fall Apart - Ashley Hickson-Lovence
Kin - Tayari Jones
Transcription - Ben Lerner
Beginning Middle End - Valeria Luiselli
A Guardian and a Thief - Megha Majumdar
Son of Nobody - Yann Martel
This Is Where the Serpent Lives - Daniyal Mueenuddin
The Things We Never Say - Elizabeth Strout
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
For adults: The Kites by Romain Gary, The Fortnight in September by RC Sherriff, Brotherless Night by VV Ganeshananthan For children/YA: Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D Schmidt, Tremendous Things by Susin Nielsen, In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner, The Cats We Meet Along the Way by Nadia Mikail
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UKLA @uklitassociation.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
UKLA Members, repost to be in with a chance of winning this month's #lucky13 A funny and sublimely ridiculous pacifist story about playground squabbling and peace – and a first children’s book from a bestselling author and world-renowned French illustrator. 5 signed copies are up for grabs!
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Absolutely thrilled that one of our wonderful students was runner-up in this competition - a terrific accolade, and great to see her writing shared with a wider audience!
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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
emagazine Close Reading Competition results announced today! Want to see some brilliant student writing by A Level Lit students & comments by judge, Tom Gatti? Look here! www.englishandmedia.co.uk/competitions...
englishandmedia.co.uk
emagazine Close Reading Competition 2026 – The Results!
The results of the 2026 emagazine Close Reading Competition.
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UKLA @uklitassociation.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
GIVEAWAY TIME! UKLA Members, repost to be in with a chance of winning this month's #lucky13 From the brilliant @mattgoodfellowpoet, the bestselling author of The Final Year comes Six Weeks - a story of love, loss, family, repair and hope. 5 signed copies are up for grabs!
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English and Media Centre @engmediacentre.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
In the past 2 years 9 EMC Associate Teachers have contributed to EMC courses, conferences + blogs. We've been lucky to get to know them + to benefit from their work. Applications for 26/27 are currently open. Please apply all you talented English teachers! englishandmedia.co.uk/projects/emc...
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Thank you to our wonderful teacher judges who brought such passion and insight to our #UKLABookAwards final panel in Glasgow today: six hours of the very best discussions about our brilliant shortlisted books and what they have meant to both teachers and children! @uklitassociation.bsky.social
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UKLA @uklitassociation.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
GIVEAWAY TIME! Excuse earlier's preview of next month's Lucky 13th. This month's is... The Shipwreck Atlas: an immersive, expert, accessible guide through 50+ shipwrecks lost to the treacherous seven seas. UKLA Members, repost to be in with a chance of winning a copy!
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Andrea Reece @reeceandrea.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Hats off to the @branfordboaseaward.bsky.social for putting editors and the work they do in the spotlight 👏And to @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social and @alcs.co.uk for supporting it. #BookSky
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Letterbox Library @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
The authors! #BranfordBoaseAward #KidLitUK #BookSky
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Letterbox Library @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
The editors! (Because #BranfordBoaseAward recognises their unique talents as well) #KidLitUK #BookSky
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
So immensely proud to be one of the judges for this year’s #BranfordBoaseAward and very excited about this wonderful shortlist we have chosen - congratulations to all the authors and editors!
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Branford Boase Award @branfordboaseaward.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
The shortlist for the 2026 #BranfordBoaseAward is out! Discover the 'magnificent' debut novels on this year's shortlist. Congratulations to these talented authors & editors 💐 & thank you to @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social & @alcs.co.uk for supporting the award. branfordboaseaward.org.uk/shortlist-20...
Graphic showing the seven books on the shortlist for the Branford Boase Award, which recognises author and editor of the year's outstanding debut noves. The books are: 
Tart by Becki Jayne Crossley, edited by Cathy Liney (Bloomsbury)
How to Roller Skate with One Leg by Ella Dove, illustrated by Jennifer Jamieson, edited by Anne Marie Ryan (Orchard Books)
Evie and Maryam’s Family Tree by Janeen Hayat, edited by Bella Pearson (Guppy Books)
Love on Sight by Asli Jensen, edited by Shalini Vallepur (Chicken House)
Gloam by Jack Mackay, edited by Katie Jennings (Rock the Boat)
The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King by Harry Trevaldwyn, edited by Emma Jones and Charlie Castelletti (First Ink)
Augmented by Kenechi Udogu, edited by Natasha Brown and Jenny Glencross (Faber)
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Branford Boase Award @branfordboaseaward.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
📢The shortlist for the 2026 #BranfordBoaseAward will be announced *tomorrow* 23 April. Which of the 24 excellent debuts on our 2026 longlist have our judges chosen? Follow us to find out! #KidLitUK #newtalent branfordboaseaward.org.uk
Graphic with photos of the four judges for this year's Branford Boase Award, given to author and editor of the year's outstanding debut novel for children and young people. They are Anjali Patel, Katherine Woodfine, Margaret McDonald and Stephen Dilley. It also includs the logos for ALCS and Walker Books who support the Branford Boase Award.
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Just finished reading this year's excellent #WomensPrize longlist - such a wonderful selection of books, many of which I would never have discovered otherwise. These would be my shortlist picks but lots of other strong contenders - The Correspondent, Gloria Don't Speak, Paradiso 17, Moderation...
A Guardian and a Thief
Flashlight
The Benefactors
The Others
The Mercy Step
A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing
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UKLA @uklitassociation.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
This month's #lucky13th giveaway is... Patrick Ness' PIPER AT THE GATES OF DUSK, the first in a new trilogy set in New World, twenty years after the groundbreaking YA trilogy; Chaos Walking. Members, reshare this post to win! @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social #nationalyearofreading2026 #goallin2026
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
A wonderful selection of articles, as ever! I really enjoyed writing an Emagplus piece for this issue exploring possible comparisons between A Streetcar Named Desire and various post-2000 novels by Sally Rooney, Maggie O’Farrell, Zoë Heller and Miriam Toews.
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
These are terrific shortlists chosen by our wonderful teacher judges - “the only CPD about reading where the books are in the hands of children!” I had a great time chairing the info books shortlisting with such thoughtful and insightful deliberations about what all the books mean to young people.
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
I'm looking forward to the #WomensPrize non-fiction shortlist announcement tomorrow. I've managed to read 11 out of 16 longlisted books and have enjoyed them all - these would be my top six.
Death of an Ordinary Man - Sarah Perry
Mother Mary Comes to Me - Arundhati Roy
The Finest Hotel in Kabul - Lyse Doucet
Daughters of the Bamboo Grove - Barbara Demick
Finding Albion - Zakia Sewell
Hotel Exile - Jane Rogoyska
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UKLA @uklitassociation.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
The time has come to bring you the 2026 UKLA Book Awards Shortlist! This year's list features a range of accessible and inclusive titles that really encourage reading for pleasure. Find out more here: ukla.org/ukla-book-aw... #kidslit #bookawards
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Excited to be in Glasgow for our @uklitassociation.bsky.social Book Awards shortlisting meeting - looking forward to some impassioned debates with all our brilliant teacher judges! @lyndajgraham.bsky.social @lockwoodcm.bsky.social @joyisreading.bsky.social
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UKLA @uklitassociation.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
LUCKY 13th! WIN a signed copy of The Story of Art Without Men Illustrated Edition by Katy Hessel & Ping Zhu. This informative and accessible publication allows children aged 8+ to discover a new way of looking at art Members, RT to be in with a chance of winning a copy!
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
What an interesting longlist - I'm thrilled for Susan Choi, Megha Majumdar and @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social whose books I have read and loved, and am looking forward to discovering other titles!
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Branford Boase Award @branfordboaseaward.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
Last chance to support #ReadItForward today! Stock up on great books and support @booktrust.org.uk & @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social with @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social 📚#booksky
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Looking through some old PowerPoint slides to prepare for a workshop in a couple of weeks, I came across this - which I rather like
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
I'm very excited about the #WomensPrize for Fiction longlist announcement next Wednesday. Here are 16 books I've read and loved in the last year which I hope will make it! @womensprize.bsky.social
Love Forms - Claire Adam
Flashlight - Susan Choi
Cape Fever - Nadia Davids
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny - Kiran Desai
The Benefactors - Wendy Erskine
Chosen Family - Madeleine Gray
The Pretender - Jo Harkin
Minbak - Ela Lee
A Family Matter - Claire Lynch
A Guardian and a Thief - Megha Majumdar
Ripeness - Sarah Moss
Celestial Lights - Cecile Pin
Endling - Maria Reva
Good People - Patmeena Sabit
Jamaica Road - Lisa Smith
A Private Man - Stephanie Sy-Quia
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UKLA @uklitassociation.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Applications to become a Teacher Judge for the UKLA 2027 Book Awards are now open! This year we're looking for teachers within travelling distance of MANCHESTER! Interested? Follow the link to find out more. ukla.org/ukla-book-aw...
ukla.org
Becoming a Teacher Judge - UK Literacy Association
UKLA are now looking for Teacher Judges for the 2027 Book Awards in Manchester!
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
In (slightly belated) honour of the John Dowland 400th anniversary, here are two of my favourite versions of his music. Firstly, phenomenal recorder pyrotechnics in this rendition of Can She Excuse My Wrongs by the Vivid Consort: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB9U...
youtube.com
John Dowland - Can She Excuse My Wrongs|Vivid Consort & David Bergmüller
YouTube video by Vivid Consort
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Congratulations to all the longlisted authors - I've read and loved 15 of these already, and there are some real favourites there!
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
We're recruiting an English teacher to join our lovely department in September: a great opportunity to work with fantastic, motivated, thoughtful students and kind, supportive colleagues in a very happy school! Do pass on to anyone who might be interested! www.kendrick.reading.sch.uk/page/?title=...
kendrick.reading.sch.uk
English Teacher
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
I'm thrilled to have an article in this edition exploring pretence and reinvention in The Great Gatsby alongside two novels by female Jazz Age authors: Anita Loos's Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, whose heroine really does manage to have it all, and Ursula Parrott's forgotten 1929 bestseller, Ex-Wife.
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
A lovely thing: our Literary Society meets in a room full of old books from decades past, and I let them choose what they want us to read from off the shelves. Last term we enjoyed Waiting for Godot and Death of a Salesman; previously we’ve explored Sylvia Plath, Oscar Wilde and Alan Bennett.
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Stephen Dilley @stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
I'm really enjoying getting stuck into this terrific #BranfordBoase Award longlist but I can already tell how difficult it will be to choose from so many brilliant, different debut books. Congratulations to all the longlisted authors and editors!
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Books for Keeps, the children's books review journal @booksforkeeps.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Congratulations to the authors and editors on the longlist for this year's #BranfordBoase Award. 24 books on what co-founder and chair of the judges, Julia Eccleshare describes as ‘the most varied longlist in the 25 years+ of the Award.’ #booksky booksforkeeps.co.uk/longlist-ann...
Photo of the books on the longlist for the 2026 Branford Boase Award Odd Girl Out
Letty and the Mystery of the Golden Thread
Shadow Thieves
The Book of Heartbreak
Tart
How to Roller Skate with One Leg
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire
Grumpfort
The Girl Who Raced the World
Evie and Maryam's Family Tree
The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood
Love on Sight
Inkbound
Gloam
A Beautiful Terrible Thing
Wildlands
Rock Band Music and Misfits
Marty Moose: First Class
The Doughnut Club
The Girl with Gills
Run Away With Me
The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King
Augmented
My Dog
The authors on the longlist for the 2026 Branford Boase Award Tasneem Abdur-Rashid
Penny Boxall
Peter Burns
Ova Ceren
Becki Jayne Crossley
Ella Dove
Anna Fiteni
Jamie Hammond
Nat Harrison
Janeen Hayat
Farhana Islam
Asli Jensen
Philippa Leathley
Jack Mackay
Miranda Moore
Brogen Murphy
Leah Osakwe
Claire Powell
Kristina Rahim
Becca Rogers
J.L. Simmonds
Harry Trevaldwyn
Kenechi Udogu
Olivia Wakeford
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