Famous Hampshire-based celebrities including Colin Firth

The Herald Scotland

10 hours ago

There are also quite a few people born here who have gone on to great success in their careers.
From esteemed actors to broadcasters, chefs, and more, Hampshire has never shied away from its celebrity connections.
With that in mind, here are nine celebrities who have some link to Hampshire, whether they have lived or have grown up in the county.
9 celebrities with connections to Hampshire
Alan Titchmarsh
Alan Titchmarsh has a home near Alton in Hampshire (Image: James Manning/PA Wire)
The gardener and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh is a well-known face on British TV thanks to his work on Gardeners' World, Love Your Garden and his self-titled chat show.
The 76-year-old moved to Hampshire with his wife Alison back in 2002, living in a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse near Alton.
Colin Firth
Colin Firth was born in the village of Grayshott in Hampshire in 1960, with both his parents being lecturers at King Alfred's College (now the University of Winchester).
Colin Firth was born in the village of Grayshott (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
He attended school in Winchester and Eastleigh before joining the National Youth Theatre in London.
Firth is now one of Britain's most prominent actors, having featured in films such as the Bridget Jones series, two Mamma Mia films, the Kingsman series, The King's Speech and much more.
Amanda Holden
Amanda Holden grew up in the town of Bishop's Waltham and has since gone on to have prominent roles in UK media.
Amanda Holden grew up in Bishop's Waltham (Image: Ian West/PA Wire)
Many will know her for being a judge on Britain's Got Talent, alongside her work on Heart Radio with Jamie Theakston.
James Martin
The chef and TV presenter James Martin, who is known for his work on Saturday Kitchen among other shows, used to have a home in the Hampshire village of Stoke Charity.
Although he has since sold the high-end converted dairy, he is still said to live near the same area.
Chris Packham
The TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham was born in Southampton and is known for fronting the BBC nature series Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch.
The 64-year-old has a home in the New Forest where he enjoys walking his dogs in the surrounding woodland.
Dame Esther Rantzen
Dame Esther Rantzen is a journalist and presenter who fronted the BBC television series That's Life! for 21 years, from 1973 until 1994.
She is also known for her charitable work, having set up Childline in 1986 and The Silver Line in 2012.
The 84-year-old now has a home in the New Forest, which she enjoys sharing with her grandchildren.
Craig David
The singer Craig David was born and grew up in Southampton, living on the Holyrood estate.
His ninth studio album is set to release in August 2025, and the 44-year-old has been behind hits including '7 Days', 'Fill Me In' and 'Insomnia'.
Scott Mills
Another famous person with links to Southampton is the radio DJ and presenter Scott Mills.
He is best known for presenting the Scott Mills show on BBC Radio 1 from 2004 to 2022.
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Nowadays, he hosts BBC Radio 2's flagship breakfast show, which he has done since January 2025.
Elizabeth Hurley
The actress and model Elizabeth Hurley was born in Basingstoke and grew up in the Hampshire town.
She is known for her roles in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Bedazzled and Passenger 57.