Singer, songwriter and producer (and Liverpool fan) Elvis Costello was born in London but moved to his father’s home town of Birkenhead as a youngster. He formed his first band while living on the Wirral, a folk duo called Rusty, before going on to become a huge star during the punk and new wave era. His song Little Palaces is about the Cadbury's factory in Moreton and life in Birkenhead.Singer, songwriter and producer (and Liverpool fan) Elvis Costello was born in London but moved to his father’s home town of Birkenhead as a youngster. He formed his first band while living on the Wirral, a folk duo called Rusty, before going on to become a huge star during the punk and new wave era. His song Little Palaces is about the Cadbury's factory in Moreton and life in Birkenhead.
Singer, songwriter and producer (and Liverpool fan) Elvis Costello was born in London but moved to his father’s home town of Birkenhead as a youngster. He formed his first band while living on the Wirral, a folk duo called Rusty, before going on to become a huge star during the punk and new wave era. His song Little Palaces is about the Cadbury's factory in Moreton and life in Birkenhead. | Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

12 famous faces who were born and brought up in Birkenhead, including Sam Quek and Taron Egerton

Dominic Raynor
By Dominic Raynor

Editor

Published 24th Apr 2024, 12:16 BST
Updated 22nd Sep 2024, 17:00 BST

From Oscar winners and musicians to Olympians and record goalscorers - we've picked out some of the most successful individuals from Birkenhead.

Birkenhead is famous having the oldest standing building in Merseyside, establishing the now famous Mersey Ferry back in the 12th century, the beautiful ‘People’s Garden’ that is Birkenhead Park and for being on ‘the other side of the water’ (depending on your perspective).

But did you know the Wirral town has produced pioneering mountaineers, Oscar winning actresses, music stars, gold-medal winning Olympians, record-breakers and Turner Prize winners?

Here we take a look at 12 household names and successful celebrities that were born or raised in Birkenhead - from Paul O'Grady to Sam Quek.

Birkenhead-born artist Mark Leckey won the prestigious Turner Prize in 2008 with his Industrial Light and Magic series. His parents both worked for Littlewoods and he describes himself as a ‘football casual’ during his youth on the Wirral. He’s now an internationally acclaimed artist with works exhibited in the Guggenheim (New York City), Tate (London) and the Centre Pompidou (Paris).

9. Mark Leckey

Birkenhead-born artist Mark Leckey won the prestigious Turner Prize in 2008 with his Industrial Light and Magic series. His parents both worked for Littlewoods and he describes himself as a ‘football casual’ during his youth on the Wirral. He’s now an internationally acclaimed artist with works exhibited in the Guggenheim (New York City), Tate (London) and the Centre Pompidou (Paris). | Leon Neal/AFP via Getty Images Photo: Leon Neal/AFP via Getty Images

Amelia Warner - actress, singer and wife of Jamie Dornan - was born in Birkenhead to actor parents Annette Ekblom and Alun Lewis. She started her acting career as a member of London’s Royal Court youth theatre group and went on to appear in films such as Æon Flux and Stoned. Warner also launched a music career under the moniker Slow Moving Millie in 2009 and won an award for her film score for Mary Shelley. Her relatives also live in Wirral.

10. Amelia Warner

Amelia Warner - actress, singer and wife of Jamie Dornan - was born in Birkenhead to actor parents Annette Ekblom and Alun Lewis. She started her acting career as a member of London’s Royal Court youth theatre group and went on to appear in films such as Æon Flux and Stoned. Warner also launched a music career under the moniker Slow Moving Millie in 2009 and won an award for her film score for Mary Shelley. Her relatives also live in Wirral. | Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Birkenhead-born Andrew Irvine was a famous mountaineer who died on Everest as part of the infamous 1924 British Expedition that also claimed the life of climbing partner George Mallory. The pair were last seen alive a few hundred metres from the summit and could have been the first to summit the highest mountain in the world. In the picture above, researcher Eric R. Simonson shows one of Ivine and Mallory’s oxygen cylinders to the press in Kathmandu as he looked for evidence they were first to summit. No conclusive proof was found either way and Irvine’s body has never been recovered.

11. Andrew Irvine

Birkenhead-born Andrew Irvine was a famous mountaineer who died on Everest as part of the infamous 1924 British Expedition that also claimed the life of climbing partner George Mallory. The pair were last seen alive a few hundred metres from the summit and could have been the first to summit the highest mountain in the world. In the picture above, researcher Eric R. Simonson shows one of Ivine and Mallory’s oxygen cylinders to the press in Kathmandu as he looked for evidence they were first to summit. No conclusive proof was found either way and Irvine’s body has never been recovered. | DEVENDRA M SINGH/AFP via Getty Images Photo: DEVENDRA M SINGH/AFP via Getty Images

Actress Barbara Steele was born in Birkenhead in 1937 and went on to star in a series of horror films earning the moniker ‘Queen of All Scream Queens’ and ‘Britain's first lady of horror’. She played a dual role in the landmark film Black Sunday and starred in The Pit and the Pendulum. Now 86, Steele appeared in several films in the 2010s, including a lead role in The Butterfly Room and a supporting role in Ryan Gosling's Lost River.

12. Barbara Steele

Actress Barbara Steele was born in Birkenhead in 1937 and went on to star in a series of horror films earning the moniker ‘Queen of All Scream Queens’ and ‘Britain's first lady of horror’. She played a dual role in the landmark film Black Sunday and starred in The Pit and the Pendulum. Now 86, Steele appeared in several films in the 2010s, including a lead role in The Butterfly Room and a supporting role in Ryan Gosling's Lost River. | Archivio Cameraphoto Epoche/Getty Images Photo: Archivio Cameraphoto Epoche/Getty Images

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