Birmingham boasts some seriously talented exports, from movie stars and musicians to world class football players.
We’ve had a look at the famous faces - actors, musicians and even politicians - who were raised in and around the city. Now, we’ve decided to take a look at the famous celebrities who grew up in the city districts of Erdington and Northfield.
Many famous people grew up in these Birmingham areas which have plenty to offer. Erdington has many historical attractions and one of the most well-known features in the area is Spaghetti Junction, situated on the southern edge of the district and on the border of Aston and Gravelly Hill. The former nightclub Mothers on the neighbourhood’s high street also had a big impact on music in the late 1960s, with Pink Floyd recording a live record there.
Many famous people also have ties to Kingstanding. The neighbourhood houses a covered drinking water reservoir, Perry Barr Reservoir, on the site of the former Perry Barr Farm. Kingstanding also has two libraries; Kingstanding Library and Perry Common Library.
A number of actors, sportspeople, musicians and other famous faces all come from these north Birmingham areas. With this in mind, we’ve taken a look at the most famous people who are from Erdington and Kingstanding, including those who were born in the areas, as well as those who have lived there at some point during their lifetime.
1. Alison Hammond
The Birmingham-born television personality and actress rose to fame after her appearance on Big Brother in 2002, and of course has gone on to host ITV’s This Morning and The Great British Bake Off. She was raised in Kingstanding and went to school in the area
2. Mist
Mist's full name is Rhys Thomas Sylvester. He is from Erdington and has recently released an album called Redemption that includes a track called Birmingham. His father, Steve Sylvester, was a guitarist who played bass in The J.A.L.N alongside his brothers in the 1970s.
3. Gabriel Agbonlahor
The former Aston Villa forward and current talkSPORT pundit spent his entire professional career with his boyhood club. He grew up in Erdington and played for Great Barr Falcons and local Erdington teams growing up
4. Jeff Lynne OBE
Lynne is the legendary musician, singer-songwriter and record producer best known for co-founding the rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Lynne was born in Erdington and grew up in Shard End where he attended Alderlea Boys’ Secondary School