The 7 famous people you never knew had links to Salisbury and Wiltshire

If the county had its own wall of fame, these television, film and novelists would definitely top the list:

1 - Mark Labbett

Many of us know him as The Beast on the ITV game show The Chase, but some may not realise he attended Bishop Wordsworth's School in Salisbury.

Born in Tiverton, Devon, Mark went to Wordsworth's from 1976 to 1983.

After bagging 10 GCSEs and five A-Levels, Mark studied maths at Oxford, law in Glamorgan and became a maths teacher - a job he did in South Wales for 20 years.

Mark's interest in quizzing began after a stint at Butlins for work experience, where he discovered quiz machines.

Mark Labbett

2 - David Mitchell

The Peep Show legend was born in Salisbury in 1974 to Ian Douglas Mitchell and Kathryn Grey Mitchell.

The actor discovered his love for drama when he began performing with the Cambridge Footlights, while studying history at Peterhouse, Cambridge.

Mitchell stars as a team captain on the TV series Would I Lie to You? and has appeared on QI, The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, Mock the Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Have I Got News for You.

David Mitchell on Stroud High Street

3 - Anna Brecon

The actress is best known for portraying Tara Reynolds ('Lady Tara') in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale.

Born in Salisbury, she attended South Wilts Grammar School for Girls in the city.

While at school, she was a contestant on the teen quiz show Blockbusters and did three "Gold runs".

Her other work includes Canary Wharf, Crime Traveller, The Bill and Doctors.

4 - Ralph Fiennes

Famous for playing Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter film series, the actor joined Bishop Wordsworth’s School in 1976 and left after finishing sixth form in 1981.

While at the school, Fiennes starred in A Man For All Seasons by Robert Bolt, where he played Cromwell, and Love’s Labours Lost by William Shakespeare. He played Berowne.

In 1990, Fiennes returned to take part in the school’s centenary celebrations by giving an illustrated talk on acting Shakespeare.

Some of his best-known work includes his portrayal of Nazi war criminal, Amon Göth, in Schindler's List, where his performance won him the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and his role as Count Almásy in The English Patient.

More recently he has taken on the role of M in the James Bond series.

PA file photo dated 18/11/2018 of Ralph Fiennes. See PA Feature SHOWBIZ Quotes. Picture credit should read: Ian West/PA. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ Quotes...

5 - Sir William Golding

The novelist was a teacher at Bishop Wordsworth’s School after moving to the city in April 1940.

There he taught English, Philosophy, Greek, and Drama before joining the navy on December 18 1940, where he reported for duty at HMS Raleigh.

The winner of the Nobel Prize For Literature is most well-known for his book The Lord Of The Flies, which "he based on the boys he so patiently observed", according to the school's website.

In March 2005, a commemorative plaque for Golding was placed outside the school entrance in The Close.

6 - Carolyn Browne

She was the former British Ambassador to Kazakhstan from 2013 to 2018.

Born in 1958, Browne later attended the South Wilts Grammar School for Girls before studying at the University of Bristol.

From 1993–97 she was at the United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations (UKMIS).

Browne was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) "for services to British foreign policy" in the 2017 Birthday Honours.

7 - Norvela Forster

The politician was born in Gillingham, Kent, before she attended South Wilts Grammar School for Girls.

Forster then went to study at Bedford College, University of London, where she was President of the Union Society and achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.

At the 1979 European Parliament election, she was elected as Member of the European Parliament for Birmingham South - a marginal constituency which had been expected to go to the Labour Party.

She was defeated after boundary changes in Birmingham East at the 1984 European Parliament election, but returned to business and became a member of the Council of the Management Consultancies Association.