The Knowhere Guide

Local Heroes in Bradford, West Yorkshire*

Bradford, West Yorkshire Famous Residents

Cringing Cult of Celebrity (Famous residents and ex-residents.)

• Gareth Gates (does he count as famous?) J.b. Priestly, Delius, David Hackney.
• George Layton - Film/TV Actor and Writer. Born 2 March 1943. Many tv appearences including "Doctor In The House" (1969),"It Ain't Half Hot Mum" (1974-5), "That's Life" (1973), Carry On Behind (1975),"Minder" (1979-84),"Sunburn" (1999/II)
• The Mad Monk is sometimes known as Creeping Jesus. Does anybody remember Old Anna. FOr all you Bill fans out there the chap who plays DCI Meadows is a Bradford lad and the boy who plays Neville Longbottom in Harry Potteris also from the vicinity.
• John Rogers, Peter Leevy, embrace
• I can't believe i'm reading about 'THE MAD MONK'. I remember him from when i was living in Eccleshill 32 years ago, well the "simple" life certainly has agreed with him.Surely guys, he has to be one of our very most famous, he is even known of in Australia, ps, who's Gareth Bates?
• I'm not from Bradford but why has no-one from there ever heard of Allan Holdsworth, a Bradfordian and the greatest electric guitarist in the world ever (ask any pro guitarist). Makes Hendrix/Clapton/Page etc sound like clumsy kids.
• Gareth Gates. And that slapper from Girls Aloud.
• Let me introduce Gordon "G" McDonald who was a contestant on the Christmas 2000 edition of "Blind Date" and got the girl despite the fact that he was wearing Bermuda shorts, Hawaii shirt, shades and a white dicky bow! He is now in a band called "Quandigy" The band's website is www.quandigy.com
• Euugh...Gareth Gates is rammed down our throats....
• Michael Sams wasn't from Bradford but Donald Nielsen (the Black Panther) was.
• Gareth Gates, From East Bowling (the whole Manchester Road area is full of toilet scum, Gareth is an exception). JB Priestly, he was some writer and philosopher.
• Gareth Gates. He goes to ALC church. FineApple
• J B Priestly eminant author, David Hockney acclaimed artist, Terrovision international rock band...oh and Ki Ki de...second thoughts scrap that last one.
• Joe Johnson ex snooker world champion. Darren the weatherman and City fan off Look North. The Bronte Sisters - born in Thornton, wrote their books in Haworth.
• David Hockney
• Apparently some KLF/ underground culture axis is currently based there.
• er...JB Priestly? That guy off Goodness Gracious Me? Titus Salt?
• Peter Sutcliff (YORKSHIRE RIPPER) Micheal Sams (KIDNAPED Estate AGENT AND KILLED HER)
• Richard Whitely used to live near Allerton
• David Hockney the famous artist who also happens to be rampant was born here
• Chumbawumba are shit.
• Andre Gouws, the world-famous raconteur/spy/mountain-climber/bon viveur/womaniser/doctor/astronaut/nobleman/bullshitter and friend of the Earl of the World used to live here, before he retired to live in the Bahamas, which he recently purchased. Honest.
• Terrorvision
• BCFC,BULLS
• Chumbawamba
• It is rumoured that Ade Edmonson is from Bradford although I don't know if this is true. Smokie of course (who the **** is Alice ) and Tasmin "where is she now?"Archer (Sleeping Satelite singer)
• Kiki Dee - singer. Joe Johnson - Snooker player.
• Wild Willi Beckett - Shadow Minister for Mental Health - Monster Raving Looney Party and Psycho Surgeopns vocalist
• Why is this important? I now live in London where the famous ex-residents are innumerable - doesn't make it a great place, I'd rather visit a pub where the locals are friendly than a place where I might catch a glimpse of a 'celeb'.
• Mary Tamm (famous actress in James Bond, and several other films).
• New Model Army - as above.
• Terrorvision - drink in the Westleigh and eat at the Italia Cafe.
• The embarassing T.V. presenter, Richard Whiteley
• The writer, J.B.Priestley

Buskers, Street Entertainers

• The lad at the Bulls games who wanders round all game talkin to anyone who makes eye contact,always wears a wooly hat and gloves.Not all there and stewards give him shit,but hes really friendly and a Bulls home game wouldnt be the same without him! Keep it up!
• In B/ford, avoid buskers like the plague, they're shite. I suppose the Bible-bashers count as "Street entertainers"? They certainly amuse me! Watch out for the dodgy Buddhist monk telling you to say guranga (or whatever it is). If you see him, you know what you can tell him from me....
• You can regularly see members of FineApple hanging around Bradford, promoting their band.
• Don't know if he counts as a street entertainer but the mad monk(?) always makes me smile......he always waves at me at work if I'm looking out of the window!
• Everyone in Bradford knows about the Mad Monk......he is a really nice guy...if you see him, give him a wave - you'll get a smile and a friendly greeting back. He must be 60 odd now - me father in law says he was about when HE was a lad. I've seen him as far away as Crossgates - always in his sandals, always striding forth with a purpose.
• The Mad Monk is ever popular, hanging around being mad and looking like a monk. The God botherers outside Boots are also fun/irrating but only in summer. Pussies.
• Gussie Jack used to be a popular entertainer at the bottom of Darley Street.
• The cool stoner big issue guy with fat dreads

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Credits

Last updated: 2008-05-15