GQ shuns showbiz royalty for 'fresh blood': Heartstopper actor Joe Locke and footballer Morgan Rogers star in latest issue as new editor focuses on up and coming UK talent - and it's strictly no Londoners allowed!

When it comes to British showbiz royalty, names such as Dame Helen Mirren, David Beckham, Sir Elton John and Dame Judi Dench are among the first to spring to mind.

But for the November issue of British GQ, it's the next generation of talent making its mark who take centre stage.

Dubbed New Blood, the issue is a celebration of homegrown talent, shining a spotlight on rising stars – proving that success doesn't have to begin in London.

New editor and proud Yorkshireman Murray Clark has turned his attention away from the usual household stalwarts to champion a fresh wave of names emerging from across the UK.

Among those featured is Heartstopper star Joe Locke, 23, who hails from the Isle of Man. Despite being plucked from a pool of 10,000 applicants to star in the hit Netflix teen drama, Locke revealed that he returned to school after filming the first season.

'It was strange, I'd been plucked out of this teenage-kid world, and then put into this adult world where I had responsibilities and a real job,' he told GQ.

For Locke, home remains a welcome escape from the spotlight, and he returns to the Isle of Man whenever he can. 

Unlike some stars who might struggle to escape the attention of fans over Christmas, however, he can count on a relatively low-key homecoming.

'Most people in the Isle of Man couldn't give less of a sh*t. It's great, because I can just go home and be Helen's son, Joe, again,' he said.

For Chelsea and England footballer Morgan Rogers, 24, growing up in Halesowen meant there were few local success stories to look up to – making those who did break through all the more memorable.

Posing in a suit for the shoot, Rogers reflected on the importance of seeing someone from his part of the country make it to the top.

'I like the fact that, especially in football, everyone's from London or Manchester,' he said.

'It made it harder, but then the ones that do [make it], they stick in your head more, in your memory.

'Because Birmingham's smaller in that sense, there are less models to relate to, so the ones that do make it, they're role models instantly.'

For The Buccaneers actor Matthew Broome, 25, who grew up in Bedford, following his passion for acting came with a different challenge: keeping his ambitions under wraps.

While studying for his GCSEs, he chose drama and joined the youth group at Northampton's Royal & Derngate theatre, often making excuses to his friends to protect his new-found interest.

'I would tell my friends I couldn't hang out because I was helping my mum with something, but I was really going to this drama class,' he said.

'I felt really protective of it. It was my thing. It was my own little community of weirdos. People think drama isn't cool, it's because none of us are cool.'

For rapper Nemzzz, 22, from Gorton in east Manchester, there's little temptation to swap the North West for the capital.

Despite London's pull on the music industry, he has no plans to leave his hometown behind.

'I'll be in and out of there (London), man. But I'll never move. I'd never leave Manchester. No chance,' he said.

Actor Harry Collett, 22, has also kept his roots close. The Essex-born star has lived with his parents while filming all three seasons of House of the Dragon, a grounding experience that helps him keep fame in perspective.

'Sometimes we might get caught up in our industry a little bit, going on press tours and staying in five-star hotels,' he said.

'Coming back and your mum sends you to clean your room is quite a reality check. I need it sometimes,' he said.

For influencer Italian Bach, 26, whose real name is Isaac Smith, the countryside remains home, even after a stint in London.

Pictured standing inside a grandfather clock in a suit and fur scarf, the Crawley-born creative explained how returning to his roots helps him find inspiration.

He said: 'I'm still a countryside guy. I moved to London, but found myself coming back, because I think being here unlocks a creative element in my brain. It makes me feel a little less cluttered and more free.'

Meanwhile, Northampton-born rapper DC3, 19, whose real name is Daniel Chenjerai, recognises both the opportunities and the drawbacks of an industry concentrated in London. While the capital offers connections, he believes staying outside it can help his career.

He said: 'You get connections. I think if I was in London, I'd end up just doing what everyone is doing, because I think it's highly saturated. You find a lot of the same types of sounds.'

Beyond its rising stars, British GQ's November issue takes a wider look at how identity and self-expression are evolving beyond the capital. 

The magazine also heads to Manchester to explore its emergence as a de facto capital of fashion upcycling, before travelling to Edinburgh to meet Scottish actor and writer Ruraidh Mollica for a lesson in Scottish style on his home turf.

Murray Clark was announced as the new Editor for British GQ in May and began his new role in June. Speaking about the new issue he said: 'I think, for a long time, fame was mostly cloistered to a few elite London postcodes.

'And while places beyond the capital have always generated real talent, we can see more of that talent far more clearly in the digital age. We can now stream them, and download them, and engage with them.

'At British GQ, we wanted to celebrate this new cohort that comes from all across the country.'

The New Blood special edition issue of British GQ is on newsstands and available for digital from October 27.