THE TOP 20 UNDER 20

His only worry is the gaps in the ice where the sea comes up. "You have to swim across them in a dry suit, " he says.

"Polar bears and whales are known to hang around there.

That's the most dangerous part I'm not too sure about that." So far his trek has raised pounds-19,000 for the charity WellChild.

To donate visit www. justgiving. com/northpoleexpedition

18. ROBBIE RENWICK Who? The leading teenager in Scotland's swimming success in the Commonwealth games.

Why so influential? Already a medal-winner at just 17, he'll be taking on the world at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

(Read a full interview with Robbie in our swimming special on page 19)

19. ROBERT KING Who? A one-man writing machine.

Why so influential? The next king of the fantasy genre?

Living down a lonely, bumpy country lane in Tain is perfect for aspiring authors. It was here, tucked away from the local town that Robert furiously scribbled his debut novel, The Apple Of Doom. He began writing it in his final year at primary school, and it was published last year. "I couldn't believe it when I walked in to the publishers office and they said, 'We've read the first six chapters of your book and we would like to publish it'. I just gasped, " says the 15-year-old. The Apple Of Doom tells the tale of Gybes and his friends battling against evil forces in Greenworld. It fits snugly into the fantasy genre, one that Robert, a big Terry Pratchett fan, is very much at home with. "I've got a large imagination, " he says. "I've always liked making up names and places for myself. I love being able to create your own world that you have control over. You can shape the character's lives." Initially his parents wanted him to start writing short stories, but Robert was determined to write a novel. "I'd always started writing a book, but never got past the first few pages, " he recalls. "Then one day I started writing and kept going." Six months later, The Apple Of Doom had grown. Since its publication, Robert has appeared at festivals, been featured in the Independent newspaper, received fan mail from an 80-year-old woman, and had the BBC interview him at school, much to the amazement of his classmates. And this is just the start. He's currently working on the sequel, as he says: "So much stuff comes into my imagination, I have to put it down somewhere."

20. ROBERT SHIELDS Who? Scotland's newest singer-songwriter and record label mogul.

Why so influential? Chris Martin likes him.

For a singer-songwriter, Robert is remarkably well adjusted.

"It's disappointing that I'm not more of a tortured teen, I know, " he laughs. "Sometimes I wish I was." When Robert was five he started tinkering with an old tuneless piano in his family home in Castle Douglas. Now, 13 years later, the 18-year-old has decided against university, choosing a musical life instead. He has started his own record label, Black Ivory records, and released his own piano-heavy debut album, Skywriter. "I've been surprised by how well it's done, " he says. "The production's really good and the feedback this end has been great. Last month, the website had about 2000 hits." Skywriter is even circulating around some influential stereos in London, although Robert is very cagey about which ones. "There's a few irons in the fire, " he says. He's already won the influential Make It Or Break It award, judged by one of his heroes, Coldplay's Chris Martin and excitedly talks about his latest batch of tunes: "Like all songwriters, I think the last thing I wrote is the best yet." Keep an ear out for Robert, his name may be on your MP3 playlist in years to come.