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20 famous faces with roots in the Wirral
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From pop stars and TV legends to Olympic champions and Everest explorers, the Wirral has produced more famous faces than you realise.
Here are 20 of the best-known names with roots on the peninsula.
Paul O’Grady – Comedian & TV Personality
TV icon Paul O’Grady was born in 1955 at St Catherine’s Hospital in Birkenhead.
The Lily Savage creator and animal lover received the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Wirral posthumously in July 2023 for exceptional contributions to his hometown. A mural near Woodside Ferry Terminal now overlooks the River Mersey in his memory.
O’Grady was awarded an MBE in 2008 for services to entertainment. He died in 2023 at the age of 67.
Elizabeth Berrington – Actress
Wallasey-born actress Elizabeth Berrington is best known for roles including Ruby Fry in Waterloo Road, Paula Kosh in Stella, Mel Debrou in Moving Wallpaper, and Dawn Stevenson in The Syndicate.
She has also appeared in series such as Doctor Who, The Office, and The Bill.
Shirley Ballas – Dancer & TV Judge
Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas was born Shirley Annette Rich in 1960 and raised in Wallasey.
Nicknamed the “Queen of Latin”, Ballas became one of the most successful ballroom dancers of her generation before moving into coaching and television judging.
Jim Bowen – TV Personality
The late Bullseye presenter Jim Bowen was born in Heswall and adopted at nine months from a Wirral orphanage.
Raised in Clayton-le-Moors in Lancashire, Bowen first worked as a teacher before finding success in comedy and television.
He went on to become the host of much-loved ITV darts quiz show Bullseye.
Pauline Daniels – Comedian
Birkenhead comedian Pauline Daniels became known for her sharp comic timing and bold stage act.
After attending Mersey Park Junior School and Prenton Park Secondary School in the 1960s, Daniels went on to build a successful career as a stand-up performer, actress, and singer on stage and television.
Pete Price – Media Personality
Pete Price is one of the most recognisable voices in Liverpool broadcasting.
Born in Wrexham in 1946, he was adopted as a baby and raised in West Kirby, where he spent much of his childhood. Price became a household name through his long-running late-night radio phone-in shows, where his outspoken style, quick wit, and willingness to tackle controversial topics built a fiercely loyal audience.
In recent years he has also become a familiar face on The Guide Liverpool, bringing the same larger-than-life personality to our platforms.
Pete Burns – Musician
Pete Burns grew up in Port Sunlight, where his father worked for Unilever.
Before achieving fame in the 1980s, the future Dead or Alive frontman worked at Liverpool’s Probe Records, where he became known for arguing with customers if he disliked their music choices.
His band found international success with the hit You Spin Me Round (Like a Record). Burns’ flamboyant image later made him a memorable television personality. He died in 2016 aged 57.
Elvis Costello – Musician
Legendary songwriter Elvis Costello spent part of his teenage years in Birkenhead, where he formed his first band. He has frequently referenced the Wirral in his work, including the 2024 song Birkenhead Girl, which mentions places such as Meols, West Kirby and Woodchurch.
A famous 1979 photograph also shows Costello and The Attractions posing outside Bidston Observatory.
Miles Kane – Musician
Birkenhead-born musician Miles Kane grew up in Meols and went on to become one of the Wirral’s most successful modern rock artists. He is known for his solo work, his collaboration with Alex Turner in The Last Shadow Puppets, and earlier bands The Little Flames and The Rascals.
Kane’s musical influences were shaped partly by his cousins James and Ian Skelly, founding members of The Coral.
The Coral – Musicians
The Coral formed in 1996 after Ian Skelly and Paul Duffy began jamming in the basement of a Hoylake pub. They were joined by Bill Ryder-Jones on lead guitar, Ian’s brother James on vocals, and Lee Southall on rhythm guitar, with Nick Power completing the line-up on keyboards.
All six original members attended Hilbre High School when the band formed.
Their 2002 debut album was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. Ryder-Jones later left in 2008, with the band continuing as a five-piece.
Ian Astbury – Musician
Rock singer Ian Astbury was born in Heswall before moving with his family to Ontario, Canada, in 1973 at the age of 11.
He later found international fame as the frontman of The Cult, whose hits include She Sells Sanctuary and Fire Woman.
Dixie Dean – Footballer
Everton legend William Ralph “Dixie” Dean was born on Laird Street in Birkenhead.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers in English football history, Dean began his career with Tranmere Rovers before joining Everton. During the 1927–28 season he scored an extraordinary 60 league goals, a record that stands today. In total he scored 349 goals in 399 appearances for the club.
Dean died in 1980 at Goodison Park. He was posthumously awarded the Freedom of the Wirral in 2026.
Chris Boardman – Cyclist
Olympic gold medallist Chris Boardman has lived on the Wirral Peninsula for many years.
The Hoylake resident won the individual pursuit at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and later became known for breaking several cycling world records. A passionate advocate for cycling and active travel, Boardman has remained closely connected to the region.
Freya Anderson – Swimmer
Birkenhead-born swimmer Freya Anderson was the most decorated British athlete at the 2021 European Aquatics Championships, winning gold in all five relay events she competed in. Later that year she won Olympic gold as part of Team GB’s mixed 4 × 100 metre medley relay team at the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Games.
Anderson attended St Joseph’s Primary School and Upton Hall Convent School before earning a scholarship to Ellesmere College in Shropshire.
Lottie Dod – Sports Star
Charlotte “Lottie” Dod won the Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles Championship five times, first claiming the title in 1887 at just 15 years old. She remains the youngest women’s singles champion in the tournament’s history.
Born into a wealthy Bebington family, Dod excelled across multiple sports including golf, field hockey and archery. She won the British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship, represented England in field hockey, and claimed a silver medal in archery at the 1908 Olympic Games.
The Guinness Book of Records later named her the most versatile female athlete of all time.
Ian Botham – Cricketer
Cricket legend Sir Ian Botham was born in Heswall before his family moved to Yeovil when he was a young child.
One of England’s greatest all-rounders, Botham enjoyed a remarkable international career, scoring more than 7,000 Test runs and taking 383 wickets.
Andrew Irvine – Mountaineer
Birkenhead native Andrew “Sandy” Irvine was part of the 1924 British Mount Everest expedition. Educated at Birkenhead School and later at Merton College, Oxford, Irvine’s engineering skills made him a valuable member of the expedition.
He disappeared high on the mountain alongside climbing partner George Mallory. Mallory’s body was discovered in 1999, but Irvine’s remains have never been found.
Wilfred Owen – Poet
Wilfred Owen is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets of the First World War.
His powerful writing on the realities of trench warfare – including Dulce et Decorum Est, Anthem for Doomed Youth, and Futility – transformed war poetry.
Owen attended the Birkenhead Institute before the war and was killed in action on 4 November 1918, just a week before the Armistice, aged 25.
Glenda Jackson – Actress & Politician
Oscar-winning actress and later Labour MP Glenda Jackson was born on Market Street in Birkenhead before growing up in Hoylake.
She made her stage debut with the YMCA Players in Hoylake and went on to enjoy a remarkable acting career, winning two Academy Awards, three Emmys, a Tony Award, and multiple BAFTAs.
Jackson later entered politics, serving as a Member of Parliament for 23 years.
Fiona Bruce – Journalist & Broadcaster
BBC journalist Fiona Bruce spent part of her childhood on the Wirral.
Born in Singapore, she lived first in Port Sunlight and later in Heswall, attending Gayton Primary School before moving abroad with her family.
Bruce went on to become one of the BBC’s most recognisable presenters and has hosted Question Time since 2019.
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