10 famous faces who were born and bred in Derby from Harry Potter to Eurovision stars

As it turns out, this is a tougher question than I first thought.

However, when I finally began my research for this article I quickly realised how many faces I recognised from so many iconic British TV shows, including; Casualty, The Bill, Skins and many more.

So, while Derby might not have many A-list celebrities, there is plenty of homegrown talent that have appeared on the small and silver screen over the years that we can be very proud of.

Read more: Your Derby

Here are just a few of the more well-known faces. Who did we miss? Let us know by email [email protected]

Jack O’Connell

Jack O’Connell hails from Alvaston, just a few miles outside Derby City centre and attended Saint Benedict Catholic School. The 33 year-old made his acting debut in a 2005 episode of the daytime TV series Doctors, but he is best known for his roles in This is England, Skins and the film Harry Brown which starred Michael Cane.

Michael Socha

Derby’s Michael Robert Socha has featured in a number of films and TV series, including; This Is England, Being Human, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland and the BBC Three miniseries Our World War. The 35 year-old is the older brother of actress Lauren Socha, who is best known for her role in Misfits, and he is also the godson of Debbie McGee.

Lauren Socha

Lauren Marie Socha is best known for her appearance as Kelly Bailey in the E4 comedy-drama television series Misfits, but is also known for her role in the Channel 4 television film The Unloved. Like her older brother (Michael Socha) she attended St Benedict Catholic School.

Ewan Mitchell

Ewan Mitchell is has featured in a number of well known shows including the ITV period drama The Halcyon, medieval series The Last Kingdom and more recently he has appeared in HBO’s prequel to Game of Thrones House of the Dragon.

Lisa Ambalavanar

Lisa Ambalavanar’s TV debut was in an episode of the BBC Two series Home Time in 2009, however, the Derby actress has gone one to feature in a string of films and TV shows including, Doctors, the Nettflic series The A List as well as appearing as the character Jinx in season four of DC's Titans.

Jessica Garlick

Those of you with a keen memory might remember Derby singer Jessica Garlick from her time as a Pop Idol contestant, where she made the last 10 back in 2001. Jessica also went on to be chosen as the British entry at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2002, where she took her country to its best result since Imaani's "Where Are You?" in 1998.

Kevin Lloyd

Kevin Lloyd will be a familiar face to fans of the iconic British TV series The Bill, where he played the role of DC Alfred "Tosh" Lines in the police drama series. Prior to appearing in The Bill he also played nightclub owner Don Watkins in Coronation Street. Kevin also appeared on our screen in a number of other iconic shows, including; Boon, Minder, Dempsey and Makepeace, Z-Cars, Auf Wiedersehen Pet and Casualty. Kevin sadly died in 1998.

Granville Saxton

Granville Saxton was born in Derby in 1948 and is a face that Harry Potter and DC fans might recognise. The actor is best known for his roles in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and Zack Snyder's Justice League.

Robyn Addison

Robyn Addison is best known for her small screen roles, in particular Doc Martin, Survivors and Casualty. Robyn has also featured in numerous other television shows.

Alan Bates

Sir Alan Arthur Bates CBE, was born at the Queen Mary Nursing Home in Derby in 1934. He came to prominence in the 1960s, when he appeared in the film Whistle Down the Wind. He is also know for his roles in Far From the Madding Crowd and The Fixer, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in 1969. Sir Alan died in 2003.