Gordon Brown: a hero of 2010 for his dignity in defeat
Libby Brooks
Libby Brooks: Heroes and villains of 2010: We all know he was a flawed PM, but Britain needs Gordon Brown's faith in international economic co-operation
Kate Hoey: loved by her constituents, hated by foxes
Zoe Williams
Zoe Williams: Heroes and villains of 2010: There is still a pervasive loyalty towards good MPs, who aren't on the make, who have done a good job, for a long time
Mark Zuckerberg's philanthropy is reason enough to applaud him
Arianna Huffington
Arianna Huffington: Heroes and villains of 2010: I don't care why the Facebook CEO is donating the $100m that will make a profound difference to the lives of Newark's children
Laurent Gbagbo has put Ivory Coast on a precarious path
Chika Unigwe
Chika Unigwe: Heroes and villains of 2010:By refusing to accept the poll result, Gbagbo is pushing Ivory Coast to the brink of war, like a fly following a corpse into a grave
Dorothy Rowe: Heroes and villains of 2010: Australia's PM rises above the usual rough and tumble of federal politics – and her mother will stop her becoming a Thatcher
Vladimir Putin: the pantomime hero – and the villain too
Dorian Lynskey
Dorian Lynskey: Heroes and villains of 2010: The karaoke singer, saviour of tigers and firefighter supreme would be hard not to like, if he didn't control a corrupt superstate
Mario Monicelli exposed injustice with love and laughter
Agnès Poirier
Agnès Poirier: Heroes and villains of 2010: The king of Italian comedy leapt to his death last month. At least he avoided seeing Berlusconi survive the no-confidence vote
Conservatives Against Fox Hunting: when animal welfare beats party loyalty
Brian May
Brian May: Heroes and villains of 2010:These brave MPs show that keeping foxes free from the torture of hunting with dogs is more important than party politics
Mikhail Khodorkovsky refuses to abandon his dream of real democracy
Abdellah Taïa
Abdellah Taïa: Heroes and villains of 2010: The authorities believe a man who wants to spread hope has no place in Russia. From his cell, Khodorkovsky remains inspiring
Shirley Sherrod maintained her dignity despite media attacks
Katha Pollitt
Katha Pollitt: Heroes and villains of 2010: Sacked after her attitude towards a white farmer was misreported, Sherrod kept her cool while others lost theirs
Student protesters: teaching the left's old guard a thing or two
Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg: Heroes and villains of 2010: The new generation seems determined to avoid the ideological nitpicking that has for so long blighted the British left
Michael Rosen: Heroes and villains of 2010: For more than 30 years the linguist has been offering us rich gems of information about how we speak and write
Arabella Weir: Heroes and villains of 2010: Jo Brand, Vicky Pepperdine and Jo Scanlan have gifted us a TV classic with their touchingly comic window on the NHS
Cath Elliott: Heroes and villains of 2010: Lisa Robinson didn't sit back and take the taunts of football fans – she stopped the train. Here's to women like her
If only talking about Sarah Palin didn't boost her power
Hadley Freeman
Hadley Freeman: Heroes and villains of 2010: She treats criticism of her as proof that she is the lone outsider, one of the common folk, pilloried by a corrupt media
Simon Hattenstone: Heroes and villains of 2010: I always suspected Nick Clegg's election claims – but he's a villain for duping all those idealistic first-time voters
Jeanette Winterson: Heroes and villains of 2010: Women are on the battle lines again, facing struggles at home and abroad. Here's one not scared to say that she's a feminist
