This is a short BBC video which gives a whistle-stop tour of the main accents of the north of England. I promise you that it's clear and it may convince you that some English accents are not as hard to understand as they might first appear.  I hope you enjoy it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1RpWFqs6CR94G8DqKNVKGrQ/a-guide-to-northern-english-accents?intc_type=promo&intc_location=news&intc_campaign=northernaccents&intc_linkname=radio4_northernaccents_article1