List of Famous people born in Keighley, United Kingdom
Tom Moore
Captain Sir Thomas Moore, popularly known as "Captain Tom", is a former British Army officer and centenarian, known for getting people to donate to charity in the run-up to his 100th birthday during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alastair Campbell
Alastair John Campbell is a British author, journalist, broadcaster, consultant strategist and mental health campaigner. He worked as Tony Blair's spokesman and campaign director (1994–1997), then as Downing Street Press Secretary (1997–2000) for Blair, who was then Labour Prime Minister. He then became Downing Street Director of Communications and spokesman for the Labour Party (2000–2003). He returned as campaign director for Blair's third election win in 2005.
Mollie Sugden
Mollie Sugden was an English comedy actress, best known for portraying the saleswoman Mrs Slocombe in the British sitcom Are You Being Served? (1972–1985). She later reprised this role in Grace & Favour (1992–1993). Sugden and her co-star John Inman became cult figures in America, so much so she was asked to appear in Donizetti's opera, La fille du regiment, in a non-singing role. Sugden appeared in many other television series, including The Liver Birds, That's My Boy and Coronation Street.
Ashley Fletcher
Ashley Michael Fletcher is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Championship club Middlesbrough.
Chris Leslie
Christopher Michael Leslie is a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Shipley from 1997 to 2005 and Nottingham East from 2010 to 2019. A former member of the Labour Party, Leslie defected to form Change UK and later became an independent politician.
Michael Sams
Michael Benneman Sams is an English kidnapper, extortionist and murderer. He kidnapped Julie Dart in July 1991 and later murdered her after she tried to escape. He subsequently kidnapped Stephanie Slater in January 1992, eventually releasing her after payment of a ransom. According to Slater, she was raped during her imprisonment, but Sams has denied this.
Ricky Wilson
Charles Richard Wilson is an English singer-songwriter, and the frontman of five-piece band Kaiser Chiefs. Before the formation of the band, in 2003, Wilson was a member of the band Runston Parva, which consisted of members of Kaiser Chiefs. On 19 September 2013, Wilson was confirmed as a coach on The Voice UK. He was the winning coach for both the fourth and fifth series of the show, being the only coach to win two years consecutively. Wilson left the show after three series, following the show's move to ITV.
Eric Pickles
Eric Jack Pickles, Baron Pickles, is a British Conservative Party politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Brentwood and Ongar from 1992 to 2017. He served in David Cameron's Cabinet as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government from 2010 to 2015. He was previously the Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2009 to 2010 and is currently the chairman of Conservative Friends of Israel in the House of Lords. He is the UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust issues, being appointed in 2015.
Paul Hudson
Paul David Hudson is an English weather presenter for BBC Yorkshire and BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Hudson was born and raised in Keighley, West Yorkshire. He was made an Honorary Fellow of Bradford College in 2014.
Simon Beaufoy
Simon Beaufoy is a British screenwriter. Born in Keighley, West Riding of Yorkshire, he was educated at Malsis School in Cross Hills, Ermysted's Grammar School and Sedbergh School, he read English at St Peter's College, Oxford and graduated from Arts University Bournemouth. In 1997, he earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay for The Full Monty. He went on to win the 2009 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Slumdog Millionaire as well as winning a Golden Globe and a BAFTA award.