Oh Birmingham, how we love you.
You brought us cookers, skateboards, photocopiers, and bicycle bells.
Windscreen wipers, whistles, microwaves and hey – even the humble pen.
Many great things were born and bred in Brum, including a surprisingly long list of incredibly famous celebs. From movie stars to Top Gear hosts, here’s a list of the famous faces that you wouldn’t think hail from the Second City.
Please note: artistic license will be used frequently and sometimes in excess.
Cat Deeley
Believe it or not (and we were firmly Team Not) Cat Deeley is actually from Sutton Coldfield!
That’s right, she might have become an American darling in recent years presenting So You Think You Can Dance and earning a whopping FIVE Emmy nominations for it (yes, really!), but she’s a born and bred Brummie through and through!
Simon Cowell
TV talent show extraordinaire. One of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People. The man who made “It’s a no from me” into Britain’s favourite catchphrase… And he’s from Birmingham?!
Well, kind of. Simon Cowell actually grew up in London, but was born in Brum and in fact, his entire family hails from the Second City, so if you ask us? Whether you watch it for the disastrous auditions or the amazing voices, you’ve basically got Birmingham to thank for the hours and hours of entertainment from The X Factor!
Richard Hammond
Surely you knew this one, right?
Born and raised in the picturesque town of Solihull, everyone’s favourite Top Gear and The Grand Tour presenter (well, ours anyway) is about as Brummie as it gets.
In fact, not only does Richard Hammond still live in the Midlands area, but both of his grandparents even worked for Birmingham’s once-bustling motor industry, helping build the cars he would one day drive at break-neck speeds!
Jamelia
There’s no doubt about it, Jamelia is Birmingham’s very own superstar!
Born and raised just outside the city centre in Handsworth, Jamelia made waves in the early noughties with R&B hits like Money, Thank You and our personal favourite, the classic Superstar. Since then, she’s become a TV presenter and even a judge on shows like Move Like Michael Jackson.
And in case you were wondering whether she’s still a proud Brummie? Jamelia resides in Barnt Green, a cutesy village a few miles from Birmingham city centre.
Orlando Bloom
Ok, even we’ll admit, this one is a bit of a stretch, but if there’s a chance to talk about Orlando Swoon (sorry, Bloom), you just know we’re going to take it!
While this Hollywood heartthrob may have been born in Kent, the Library of Birmingham family tree archives show that Orlando’s third great-great-grandmother was baptised in Birmingham, which means she probably lived there.
And if we’re honest, that’s good enough for us. Just look at him. Faints.
Birmingham’s sure got a lot going for it… And this talent-factory is about to get even BETTER once we come to town!
Our Birmingham cocktail bar and restaurant will be arriving real soon, and before you know it, you’ll be enjoying dazzling cocktails, feasts of exotic food, and unforgettable nights out.
(Banner image credit: “Orlando Bloom at the 2005 Venice Film Festival” by Hengist Decius is licensed under CC BY 2.0)
