Challenging talk.

JULIAN Agyeman is a professor with a passion for the region and a belief in the potential of its people.

But he feels neither have benefited as they could have from the regeneration that has brought Tyneside so many visitors and much acclaim.

The professor is not the first exile to return with criticisms to make of the area he left, but precious few give a public lecture as he will tonight.

It promises to be an evening of cogent argument, different ways of thinking and challenges to accepted beliefs..