17 famous faces you probably didn't know had links to Basingstoke

But there may be more famous faces linked with the borough than you thought. 

Here are 17 of them from the internationally famous to the who are they? z-listers who either live in Basingstoke or have links to it. 

We'll let you decide which end of the scale they fall on. 

Have we missed anyone out? Let us know. 

1. Harry Styles – the world-famous popstar's cousin, Ben Selley, lives in Tadley and is a member of Basingstoke boy band Concept.

Harry’s grandfather also lives in Bramley. The One Direction singer was even once spotted in Sainsbury’s supermarket, in Tadley, back in 2010 while he was competing on X-Factor.

2. Liz Hurley –

No list of Basingstoke's most famous would be compete without a nod to the Hollywood actress who is synonymous with the town. 

Liz Hurley, the now 54-year-old mother and businesswoman was once a student at Harriet Costello School, now known as The Costello School.

3. Laura Marling – the Brit award-winning singer grew up in Eversley, near Hook.

The British folk singer-songwriter took home the Best British Female Solo Artist at the 2011 Brit Awards and was nominated for the same award at the 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018 Brit Awards.

4. Keith Chegwin – the late 1980s television presenter lived in Ashmansworth, on the outskirts of Basingstoke and Deane.

The onscreen comedian, who took part in the 2015 cohort of ITV’s Dancing on Ice, rehearsed for the show at Basingstoke’s Planet Ice (pictured below).

5. Steve Hewlett – Steve came fourth on last year’s Britain’s Got Talent and now has a 38-tour theatre date.

6. Tanita Tikaram – the 1980s popstar moved from her home country of Germany to Basingstoke when she was in her teens. Her brother actor, Ramon Tikaram, has been spotted in Basingstoke in recent years.

7. Katy Brand – Previous reports suggested the English comedian had bought a house in the village of Oakley.

Katy Brand pictured with Russell Kane

8. Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber – the famous British composer lives at Sydmonton Court, near Kingsclere.

9. Clare Balding – the television presenter grew up in Kingsclere, where her family still live. Her brother, Andrew, runs Park House Stables in the village. In 2013, Clare turned up to open Kingsclere’s village fete (pictured below).

10. Dr Hilary Jones – the celebrity doctor became a junior doctor at Basingstoke hospital before becoming a GP in the Basingstoke area. The picture below is of Dr Jones opening a walk-in centre in Basingstoke.

11. Falcon – the former Gladiator, whose real name is Bernadette Hunt, lives in Basingstoke and used to work for the Sports Centre.

12. Sarah Ferguson – The Duchess of York lived at Dummer Down Farm, in Dummer, from the age of eight. In December 2012 she accompanied her daughter’s Beatrice and Eugenie and ex-husband Prince Andrew to the wedding of her stepmother, Susan Ferguson, at All Saints Church, in Dummer.

13. John Frieda – the celebrity hairstylist, who was married to singer Lulu, lives in Upton Grey. In 2012 he helped save the village pub, the Hoddington Arms (pictured below), by reportedly donating funds along with two other businessmen.

14. Tara Palmer-Tomkinson – the late English socialite's father, Charles, owns the 1,200 acre Dummer Grange estate near Basingstoke.

15. Brian Wheeler – the dwarf actor, who lives in Whitchurch, has appeared in various television shows and films, including Return of the Jedi and Harry Potter. In 2010 he was in the news when Whitchurch installed an ATM cash machine 19.8 inches from the pavement - the perfect height for Brian (pictured below).

16. Jody Scheckter – the former Formula One champion now lives in Laverstoke, where he owns Laverstoke Park Farm with his wife Clare. This weekend he has opened up his estate again to host his friend Chris Evan's three-day CarFest event. 

17. Richard Adams – the author, who wrote Watership Down, lived in Whitchurch. The picture below shows him celebrating his 90th birthday in 2010 at The White Hart, in Whitchurch.

Original article published in 2014 and updated in 2019.