Well, it has to be evergreen for all year round interest. How about Viburnum Tinus (variegated form is nice and bright), Prunus Laurocerasus, Holly, Box, Taxus Baccatus, and then underplant with some spring bulbs for spring and some busy lizzy in summer will also tolerate shade. Or for smaller plants...Heuchera, Ferns, Leucanthemum and ivies of course...all evergreen.. Have fun!

You don't say where you are in the UK, nor what size the pots are, but north east facing is a cold and often windy situation, and will catch the worst of the winter weather. The only smallish evergreen shrub I can think of which may tolerate those conditions, and won't require a massive pot, is Leucothoe - give it acid soil and don't let them dry out too much.

Choisya ternata 'Sundance' grows well in full shade on the north side of my house. It has lime green leaves and white flowers.

Depends where Julier lives though, Volunteer - if its up north, in that position the leaves will suffer windburn in winter.

Well, that depends on the level of shelter of course Bamboo, but I have loads of evergreens in pots in total shade facing NE in my shade garden and all have made it over the winter..the only ones suffering damage were a bay that had been bought from B&Q in the autumn so wasn't properly hardened off, a viburnum tinus which suffered frost damage to the top leaves and flowers, and an ilex Perado (Madeiran Holly) which has lost some leaves. Dare I say that suggesting that only Leucothoe would survive is a little of an exaggeration one that is, may I venture, without meaning to offend, fairly typical of the misunderstanding that a lot of southern folk live under, that anywhere north of Lincs. is the frozen north and all gardening is a terrible fight 'up there!' My baby Fatsia is fine, my Fatshedera likewise ..both facing N.E .so take heart Julie! btw, Bamboo, you will be interested to know that I had a 15 foot tall Hoheria Sextylose in my first garden in Dundee. Sorry to go on a bit, but this is one of my bugbears I'm afraid. It is perfectly possible to grow things in all sorts of positions if you try. They won't grow as fast as they would further south, but that doesn't mean we can't grow them. Hardly any damage on any of my choisyas either!

I take the point about the frozen north, though for us native Londoners, we think of anywhere North of Watford rather than Lincs as being freezing, lol. Well, except for Berkshire, which strangely does get very cold. But it does depend not only on the area of the country, but also the microclimate in the very spot where the plants are, as I'm sure you know. Here in London, I have a friend who keeps a lovely standard bay tree in a pot outside her front door, which is in an alleyway open at one end, with a gate at the other, with a northwest/southeast aspect, very little sun apart from high summer. The bay has been replaced 4 times so far because of windburn, and that's in the comparatively balmy west of London. I can't persuade her to choose something else - though not sure what, in such desperate conditions really.
And Dundee is on the coast - anywhere within 10 miles of the sea will always be warmer than inland, whatever part of the country its in.
Ultimately, much depends on where Julier lives, and what size pots she's using.

Hydrangea Petiolaris perhaps? lol :) Microclimate is absolutely vital to consider, and that is partly why I get so annoyed when books and t.v. progs tell us what can and cant be grown in what part of the country. Common sense is our best tool in gardening! Perhaps Julie will let us in on where she lives and how close to water. I always think that wise advice is..look at what is growing in your neighbours gardens. Did you seem my comment about my neighbours with Cordylines Bamboo? Two each, same height, about 15 feet high. Both on same side of street and both growing cordys in exactly same area of their garden. One garden, both dead. Other garden, both alive and well. Difference? First house with dead cordys on the corner of the street, so more exposed to winds. And yes, I think brutal wind is far more the culprit of plant deaths than cold is.

yes, I did notice that earlier on - typical of what we're talking about, and quite amazing, really, to think that a space of about 10 feet or so makes such a difference. I've got relatives in Addiscombe - I've never known anywhere in London to be so cold, but its only their back garden which is badly affected, not the front, extraordinary, given its in the south of the country. Frost there when the rest of us have none at all...

Yes exactly! I love the London climate, I was a student there and still visit occasionally. I love the way my friends can grow sub tropical things with success. I've also experienced some of the fiercest most cutting cold winds on the South Bank of the Thames! Perhaps we should consider doing a blog about this subject Bamboo. It could be really useful to novice gardeners!

Maybe, though they'd probably be bored before we'd finished, I mean there's all that stuff about frost flowing like water and frost pockets and prevailing winds, probably be enough to put 'em off, lol

Oh, I don't know. I find that stuff fascinating....oh, yeah....good point! :))

Well thanks to all for the suggestions - I live in the midlands, btw! I will try the viburnum.

I have also suffered damage this winter to an established bay and olive tree. Hope they recover but not hoping for much...

I expect a lot of olive trees will have suffered. They have become very fashionable lately and loads of people have them.