Manchester’s most talked-about celebs
January 24th, 2012 3:08 pm
Today’s news that Noel Gallagher has been bestowed with the annual ‘Godlike Genius’ honour at the NME Awards 2012, despite quitting Oasis in 2009, shows that he’s still very much a recognised force in music culture after years of prolific hit making.
That got me thinking… there are plenty of lists of great Mancunians out there – LS Lowry, Morrissey et al – but who actually grabs the most headlines at the moment?
Here are a few names you might recognise…
Professor Brian Cox, OBE
Brian – who has a name which, interestingly, reads ‘brain’ if you switch a couple of letters around – is best known for his BBC television programmes about physics, which include Wonders Of The Universe and Wonders Of The Solar System. He was born in Chadderton, near Oldham, and had a short music career in D:Ream, which started during his studies at the University Of Manchester. He now lives in London with his wife and son, but is still involved in academic work in Manchester.
Mario Balotelli
He’s not strictly from Manchester – having been born and raised in Italy – but as a striker for Manchester City football club and possessing a rather extrovert character, Balotelli has become synonymous with the flamboyant ‘footballer culture’ which pervades this part of the world. He joined Manchester City in 2010 and has rarely been out of the headlines since, both local and national. Early in his days here, he was involved in a car crash and when asked by police why he was carrying £5000 cash, famously replied: “Because I am rich.” His other reported escapades have included throwing darts at a youth team player, turning part of his garden into a quad bike racetrack and firefighters being called to his home after a firework was set off inside.
Michelle Keegan
There are several stars of long-running soap Coronation Street that I could name, but Ms Keegan is undoubtedly one of the most popular at present. She has played character Tina McIntyre since 2007 and proved a big hit with viewers. Michelle is also regularly pictured on social outings in Manchester and elsewhere, attracting interest from readers of lads’ mags and fashionista publications alike. She lives in her birth town, Irlam, with fiancé Max George of boyband The Wanted – another local name.
Other Manchester-related stars I could detail (but won’t on this occasion) include Denise Welch, currently embroiled in the stormy Celebrity Big Brother house on Channel 5; and Noel Gallagher’s daughter Anais Gallagher, enjoying a blossoming modelling career at the young age of 11.
Tags: famous Mancunians, Manc celebrities, Manc stars, Manchester celebrities, Manchester celebs, Manchester stars, Mancunian headlines
