The most famous people that came out of Watford

If the town had its own wall of fame, these actors, musicians, Youtubers and sporting stars would definitely top the list:

Anthony Joshua 

Anthony Joshua has not fought since December (Nick Potts/PA)

Anthony Joshua, OBE, is a British professional boxer who is a two-time unified heavyweight champion.

He currently holds the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO titles since December 2019 and previously held them between 2016 and June 2019.

Joshua was born in Watford but went to school in Nigeria for some years until his parents divorced, then he moved to Hertfordshire where he attended Kings Langley School. 

Vinnie Jones

Vinnie Jones (Ian West/PA)

Actor, singer and former professional footballer, Vinnie Jones, played as a midfielder from 1984 to 1999, notably for Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers and Wales.

Born and raised in Watford, Jones attended Bedmond Junior School.

Gerri Horner

Formerly Geri Halliwell, Ginger Spice was born and raised in Watford. (Ian West/PA)

Former Ginger Spice, Gerri Horner (formerly Halliwell), is a singer, songwriter, author, actress, and philanthropist. 

With over 85 million records sold worldwide, the Spice Girls became the best-selling female group of all time.

Halliwell was born at  Watford General Hospital, she grew up on a council estate in North Watford and attended Watford Grammar School for Girls.

Olajide Olatunji

Youtuber KSI has over seven billion views on his videos.  (KSI/PA)

Olajide Olatunji, better known as the Youtuber KSI, is an internet personality, rapper, actor, and boxer. 

Olatunji was born and raised in Watford and he attended Berkhamsted School. However, he dropped out of sixth form college to pursue his YouTube career once he was earning steady monthly revenue from his uploads. 

KSI built his following from posting gaming-commentary videos of the FIFA video game.

As of August 2020, he has received over 30 million subscribers and over seven billion video views across his two individual channels.

Nikki Grahame

The television personality, model, and author, Nikki Grahame, competed in the seventh series of Big Brother UK in 2006. 

After finishing in fifth place she later went on to star in her own reality television series Princess Nikki.

Grahame has won a National Television Award for Most Popular TV Contender. She has also released two autobiographical books, Dying To Be Thin and Fragile, based on her experiences with anorexia nervosa throughout her life.

Bradley Walsh

Bradley Walsh (Isabel Infantes/PA)

Bradley Walsh is an actor, comedian, television presenter, singer and former professional footballer. He is best known for his roles as Danny Baldwin in Coronation Street and presenter of the gameshow The Chase.

A born and bred Watford boy, Walsh grew up near Watford, in Leavesden. He attended the Francis Combe Academy, a comprehensive school in Garston, Hertfordshire.

Walsh left school at 16 and got a job as an apprentice at Rolls-Royce's aircraft engine factory in Watford.

Gareth Southgate

Gareth Southgate has written a book during lockdown (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Gareth Southgate OBE is an English professional football manager and former player who played as a defender or as a midfielder. He is the manager of the England national team.

Born in Watford, Southgate began his career at Crystal Palace, playing initially at right-back and then in central midfield. He became captain and led the club to the 1993–94 First Division title.

Mo Mowlam

Marjorie "Mo" Mowlam was born in Watford but raise in Coventry. She was a Labour Party politician and Member of Parliament (MP) for Redcar from 1987 to 2001.

Mowlam served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Mowlam's time as Northern Ireland Secretary saw the signing of the historic Good Friday Peace Agreement in 1998.