East Lancashire is home to a lot of famous faces.

From, Carl Fogarty to James Anderson the county has produced a lot of big names.

While you might have been well aware of the celebrities come from the region- do you know which schools they attended?

Plenty of celebrities were educated right on our doorstep and may have even found their love for music or acting behind the school gates.

Here are some celebrities who were educated in East Lancashire:

Haslingden High School, Rossendale

Sam Aston

(Instagram/samaston93)

If you are an avid soap watcher, they you will have undoubtedly seen Sam Aston grace your screens.

Aston plays Chesney in Coronation Street and has been on the show since 2003.

He has also managed to scoop several awards, including one for Best Young Actor.

As he spent a lot of his time on set, Aston was privately tutored.

However, once filming was finished he was able to return to Haslingden High School.

Keira Walsh

This talented footballers is another former Haslingden High pupil.

She currently plays for the women’s Manchester City team as well as the national team.

St Theodore's RC High School, Burnley

James ‘Jimmy’ Anderson

(Instagram/jimmya9)

Cricketer James Anderson is considered to be one of England’s most successful and fastest bowlers.

He also played at Burnley Cricket Club from a young age, and now has a stand named after him at Lancashire County Cricket ground.

In an interview with a national paper, Anderson’s P.E teacher said James was very small and frail at 11.

However, he had natural talent and great hand-eye coordination- two factors that helped him develop into the sterling athlete he is today.

Darwen Vale High School, Darwen

Carl Foggarty

This sporting legend was born in Blackburn and is regarded as one of the best world superbike racers.

He attended Darwen Vale High School

The seven-time world champion announced his retirement in 2000, after he damaged his arm in an accident.

Since then, Fogarty went on to win reality TV show, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2014.

Edge End High School, Nelson

John Simm

He may have been born in Leeds, but this BAFTA nominated actor was educated in Nelson and attended Edge End High School.

The actor has had an eclectic career, starring in Human Traffic, Life on Mars, Mad Dogs and Doctor Who, just to name a few.

Speaking to The Lancashire Telegraph about his childhood he said he had a happy upbringing.

He said: “I used to go to Burnley and Manchester for nights out and I have fond memories growing up.

“I had a great childhood, we were very poor, but we played out and we had so much fun.”

He left Nelson at the age of 16 and trained to be an actor in Blackpool and at The Fylde College.

Hyndburn Park Primary School, Hyndburn

Julie Hesmondhalgh

Julie is best know for portraying Hayley Cropper in the ITV soap Coronation Street.

The Accrington woman even won an award for Best Serial Drama Performance and Best Actress in 2014.

Before that, Julie’s education started at Hyndburn Park Primary School- and she has regularly kept In touch with staff there.

In 2010, she visited to wish her former teacher good luck as she retired.

She later went on to study at Moorhead High School as well as Accrington and Rossendale College.

St James' Lanehead Primary School, Burnley

 

Jordan North

(Instagram/jordannorth1)

Jordan was one of the most talked about celebrities last year, after his stint on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

He was born in York, but grew up in Burnley attending St James Lanehead C of E Primary.

He is best know for being a BBC Radio 1 presenter and he is also the ambassador for Pendleside Hospice.

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, Rossendale

Agyness Deyn

Originally from Littleborough, Agyness Deyne (or Laura Michelle Hollin as she was born) was educated in this Rossendale grammar school.

During her youth, she also attended All Saints Roman Catholic High School in Rawtenstall.

Before finding fame, she worked in a Rossendale fish and chip shop before pursuing a modelling career which peaked in the late 2000s.

She retired in 2010 but went onto to pursue some acting and design jobs; Clash of the Titans (2010) and Sunset Song are just some hit movies she has starred in.

Phil Lester


(Instagram/amazingphil)

Phil is another famous face from the Rossendale Grammar School.

The social media influencer has amassed more than 4.3 million subscribers on his main channel and is one of the most notable and successful British YouTubers on the platform.

Both Phil and fellow influencer, Dan Howell, also hosted the Dan and Phil radio show which aired on BBC radio 1 between 2013-2014.

Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe
 

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Ediburgh- but did you know he spent a lot of his time at Stonyhurst College between 1968-1875.

If you didn’t already know, he is famed for creating the character of Sherlock Holmes and the subsequent novels about the deerstalker-wearing detective.

An archivist said some of Doyle’s character names could be traced back to his fellow pupils and teachers.


Did you go to the same school as any of these celebrities?