Advanced search

Laura Carmichael was born on 16 July 1986 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Downton Abbey (2019), Downton Abbey (2010) and Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022).

James Lance was born on 29 September 1975 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Northern Soul (2014), Bronson (2008) and Marie Antoinette (2006). He has been married to Kate Quilton since 2016. They have one child.

Luke Thompson grew up in France from the age of 2, but was born in Southampton, UK. He speaks French and English. His father was an engineer and his mother a teacher , and he is one of three children. He attended a French school in Fontainebleau with an Anglophone Section from 1997 to 2005. Arriving in the UK in 2006, Thompson spent a year with the Year Out Drama Company in Stratford-upon-Avon. He studied English and Drama at the University of Bristol and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, graduating in 2013.

Ken Russell tried several professions before choosing to become a film director; he was a still photographer and a dancer and he even served in the Army, but film was his destiny. He began by making several short films which paved the way for his brilliant television films of the 1960s that are acclaimed for his attention to detail and opulent visuals. His third feature film Women in Love (1969) was a triumph that made him known internationally. In the 1970s, his talent truly blossomed. Over the next two decades he would direct a succession of remarkable films, most containing the trademark flamboyance that critics generally dismiss but many find engrossing. He will forever be remembered as a controversial, visionary artist with something of a third eye for oddball dramas with captivating images and themes.

He was born Alfred Hawthorn Hill. It was his grandfather who introduced him to Burlesque Shows and the theatre from where the young Benny Hill was to draw much of his comic inspiration. After his national service with the army during WW2, Benny came to London, adopted the stage name Benny Hill (in homage to his all time favourite comedian Jack Benny) and began appearing in variety shows. He briefly formed a double act with Reg Varney and did radio shows. But it was his talent for impressions and comic timing that were to give him his first big break on TV with the show "Hi There" in 1949. The Benny Hill Show (1955) began in 1955. Its pioneering combination of cheeky humour, songs and impressions were to make it a hit for the next 40 years.

Benny also broadened his career with cameo appearances in films such as The Italian Job (1969), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes (1965). He also had a hit record in 1971 with "Ernie The Fastest Milkman In The West". In 1979 The Benny Hill Show (1955) was shown in America for the first time and Benny went on to become one of the biggest stars on US TV. The show itself has been seen in 109 countries and won a BAFTA as well as Golden Rose Of Montreaux Award. Benny Hill's TV career came to an end in 1989, when his show was dropped, but his popularity continued and he completed a US TV special, Benny Hill's World Tour: New York! (1991) shortly before his death in 1992.

Joseph trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Since graduating he has worked extensively in television, film, theatre, animation and video games on both sides of the Atlantic. He has also been the recipient of a Banff Television Fellowship (2007) He has two children and resides in London, England.

Natasha Wightman was born in 1970 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for V for Vendetta (2005), Gosford Park (2001) and State of Play (2003). She has been married to George Duffield since 2002.

A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, Beckley appeared in BBC TV's "Romeo and Juliet", and later in "War and Peace" and "Julius Caesar." On stage, he appeared with Maggie Smith in "Snap" and Elaine Stritch in Tennessee Williams' "Small Craft Warnings." A veteran actor of over 1000 stage productions and television shows in England, Beckley's last film role was as the killer in When a Stranger Calls (1979).

Born in England in 1891, Stanley Ridges would become a protégé of Beatrice Lillie, a star of musical comedies, and spent a great many years learning and honing his craft on the stage. He eventually would make his way over to America, and become a romantic leading man on Broadway. His first film appearance was in Success (1923), but his film career would not begin to take off until he was 43 in Crime Without Passion (1934) opposite Claude Rains. Stanley found himself cast in character roles, as his graying hair put his romantic leading man days at an end. Despite this he was well cast in the horror film Black Friday (1940) opposite Boris Karloff as a beloved professor who becomes the innocent victim of a shooting. To save him Karloff's character transplants part of the brain of the criminal who shot Stanley's character. Stanley goes on to steal the film, doing a Jekyll-and-Hyde act going from the beloved professor to the crass and uncouth criminal.

Ridges would be cast in other memorable films, including The Sea Wolf (1941), Sergeant York (1941), To Be or Not to Be (1942) and The Suspect (1944). His last film would be The Groom Wore Spurs (1951) with Ginger Rogers, before passing away in April of that year.

Daniel Bacon is an actor living in Vancouver, Canada. He didn't make the decision to pursue acting until well into his twenties and studied at Gastown Actors Studio in Vancouver, where the likes of Barry Pepper and Molly Parker had taken classes. After that he took classes at The Lyric School of acting where he studied alongside Grace Park and many other accomplished Vancouver actors. In 2015 he had the tremendous pleasure of working alongside Mark Rylance and Jemaine Clement under the direction of Steven Spielberg in the Disney film The BFG. Daniel played one of the not so friendly Giants named Bonecruncher.

Solidly built, balding, extremely prolific British character actor, known chiefly for his lengthy tenure as car dealer Roy Evans on TV's EastEnders (1985), spanning some 634 episodes over a nine year period (1994-2003). He was born Anthony Patrick Caunter in Southampton to Roy Robert and Annie Mary Joy Caunter (née Stratton). He grew up in Worthing, and, after leaving school, served with the RAF. Upon his return to civilian life, Caunter studied drama at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). He first acted on stage with the Farnham Repertory Company (1966-69) and, later, with the Theatre Royal in Windsor (1984-89). His screen debut duly followed in 1962 and he subsequently found many small supporting roles in cult television shows, frequently portraying police officers. Caunter appeared three times as different characters in Doctor Who (1963). He also had recurring roles in Queenie's Castle (1970) (as Diana Dor's sly wheeler-dealer brother-in-law Jack Shepherd), The Legend of Robin Hood (1975) (as Friar Tuck), Beryl's Lot (1973) (next-door neighbour Trevor Tonks), Crown Court (1972) (Inspector Cripps), Juliet Bravo (1980) (Detective Chief Inspector Jim Logan) and The Chief (1990) (Deputy Chief Constable Arthur Quine).

Tony Caunter retired from acting in 2016. Said to be residing in East Sussex, he is married to Frances Wallace and has three sons and a daughter.

John Allen also was part of Ozzy Osbourne's Diary of a Madman and Speak of the Devil tour in the USA and UK. He was featured in the gate-fold of Speak/Talk of the Devil with Ozzy. Onstage, he was nicknamed Ronnie (inside joke) and provided comic relief (and towels) and was hanged during the song "Goodbye to Romance".

Chris Packham was born on 4 May 1961 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Inside Our Autistic Minds (2023), The Trials of Life (1990) and Holby City (1999).

Jeremy Gilley, an English born director and founder of Peace One Day, known for documenting the extraordinary personal journey which resulted in the unanimous adoption by United Nations Member States of the first ever 'Peace Day' - an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence with a fixed calendar date: 21 September. Gilley continues to document, through the power of film and writing, the ongoing efforts to institutionalise Peace Day across the globe.

Will Champion was born on 31 July 1978 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), Unbroken (2014) and Crazy Rich Asians (2018). He has been married to Marianna Champion since 2003. They have three children.

Dorinda Stevens was born on 16 August 1932 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Avengers (1961), Night Train to Paris (1964) and Secret Agent (1964). She was married to Michael Boultbee. She died on 25 October 2012 in Winchester, Hampshire, England, UK.

Rae Baker was born in 1974 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for London Road (2015), Ice Planet (2001) and The Bill (1984). She is married to Duncan Wisbey. They have one child.

Tony Wharmby was born on 1 November 1940 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. He is a director and producer, known for Dempsey and Makepeace (1985), The X-Files (1993) and The Gentle Touch (1980).

Angelo Abela was born on 9 January 1962 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. He is a director and producer, known for Free Rein (2017), Zero Chill (2021) and House of Anubis (2011).

Niki Winterson was born on 9 March 1967 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. Niki is a talent agent. Niki has been married to Shaun Prendergast since 22 April 2005. They have two children.

Craig David was born on 5 May 1981 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. He is a music artist and actor, known for About Time (2013), Osmosis Jones (2001) and Bridget Jones's Diary (2001).

Stephen Warbeck began studying piano and composing at the age of four. His parents were keen amateur musicians who encouraged Stephen to pursue his musical talents. By his mid-teens, Stephen developed an affinity for rock 'n' roll as well as for theatre. He studied Drama and French at Bristol University, and began his career at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, as a musician and actor. After eight years of working as a composer and performer for the stage, Stephen began writing music for film and television. Since the early 1980s, Stephen has built up a considerable filmography. As well as writing music for more than forty television projects, (for which he has received five BAFTA nominations, including one for the highly successful series Prime Suspect), he has scored many feature films including The Other Man (2008), Proof (2005), Two Brothers (2004), Mrs. Brown (1997), Mystery Men (1999), Quills (2000), Billy Elliot (2000), Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001), Birthday Girl (2002), and Shakespeare in Love (1998), for which he won an Academy Award. Some of Stephen's notable stage productions include the National Theatre's An Inspector Calls, John Madden's production of Proof , Sam Mendes' production of To The Green Fields Beyond, both at the Donmar, and The White Devil for the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has written for several shows at the Almeida, including The Triumph Of Love, Parlour Song and When The Rain Stops Falling. Stephen most recently collaborated with Ian Rickson on Jerusalem at the Royal Court. In addition to composing for film and television, Stephen has written music for numerous radio plays, and is a founder member of the anarchic pub band The hKippers, for whom he composes and performs. He has his own ensemble and another small band called The Metropolitan Water Board. Stephen has written several concert pieces, "Peter Pan" is his first ballet score.

Mike Batt was born on 2 February 1950 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. He is a composer and director, known for Miss Potter (2006), The Phantom of the Opera (2004) and Just Like Heaven (2005). He has been married to Julianne White since 2 January 1985. They have two children.

Adèle Anderson was born on 14 June 1952 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Company Business (1991), Hotel Babylon (2006) and Lady Jane (1986).

Mike Osman was born in Millbrook, Southampton in England. He served with the British Royal Navy during the 80s and has strong links still with the Armed Forces, appearing often at special events for the troops. He once presented the Capital Gold Breakfast Show in London between 6am and 10am.

Osman joined Capital Gold in 1996 and quickly established himself as a radio natural. His show is a mix of music and comedy, and is very topical and up to the minute. Mike always has great fun with his callers, who 'contribute to the show with their own inventiveness and creativity'.

His famous impressions range from former Prime Minister John Major to Bruce Forsyth, taking in Prince Charles and the Trotter Brothers along the way.