From the fabulous shores to the busy town centre and stunning countryside, Bournemouth and Poole has been home to a surprising number of celebrities.

These TV personalities, musicians, actors and sporting stars are among the most famous faces to have lived in our town:

Christian Bale

Bournemouth Echo:

Christian Bale (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The Oscar winning actor and star of The Dark Knight and American Psycho attended Bournemouth School until he left at the age of 16. 

After his parents divorce his mother and sister stayed in Bournemouth while Bale moved to LA with his father. 

He earned a reputation as a method actor after he lost 63 pounds for his role in The Machinist and has been recently nominated for his second Oscar for his leading role in American Hustle.

Jamie Redknapp

Bournemouth Echo:

Jamie Redknapp(Ian West/PA)

Retired midfielder and Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Redknapp attended Twynham School in Christchurch.

Speaking to the Bournemouth Daily Echo back in 2016, Jamie said: “Twynham was a lovely school but I had the attention span of a gnat when it came to academic studies.

“But I had two teachers, Mr Jackson and Mr Broadwell, who were as big a help as anyone in my career and it’s only now I realise it.

"We’d spend hours playing badminton and lots of other sports that helped me with my sharpness and my feet and I loved it.”

Redknapp started his professional career at the age of 16 at AFC Bournemouth, he made 13 appearances for the club before attracting the attention of Liverpool.

He gained 17 England caps between and has a house in Branksome Park which he shares with his wife Louise.

Millie Bobby Brown 

Bournemouth Echo:

(Ian West/PA)

The 16 year old actress, Millie Bobby Brown, is well known for her role as Eleven in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things.

After being born in Marbella her family moved to Bournemouth when she was around four years old. However the family didn't stay in the area for very long as four years later, when Brown was eight, they moved to Windermere in Florida. 

Brown comes to visit the town every so often, recently posting a picture of instagram of herself on Bournemouth Pier.

Amanda Holden

Bournemouth Echo:

Best known for her role as a judge on the ITV talent show, Britain’s Got Talent, Amanda  Holden has also starred in Wild at Heart and was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for her title performance in Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Holden moved to Bournemouth at the age of 16 and studied drama at Bournemouth and Poole College.

Speaking to the Daily Echo in 2013, she spoke about her life in Bournemouth, where she moved aged 16, living with her parents in their Alum Chine guest house and studying on Bournemouth and Poole College’s Jellicoe Theatre course.

“It is lovely to be back, I have so much history here,” she said.

“When my mum and dad moved here I didn’t know what we were doing, but it’s where I started learning my craft.

“I have some really, really happy memories from here.”

Tony Hancock

Tony Hancock is one of Britain’s best-known comedians and actors was brought up in Bournemouth where his father worked as an entertainer at the Railway Hotel in Holdenhurst Road.

Hancock attended Durlston Court School in New Milton, but left school at 15. His popular show Hancock's Half Hour is now a British comedy classic.

Tony Hancock: his life in Bournemouth

J.R.R Tolkien

Bournemouth Echo:

The legendary creator of Middle Earth and The Lord of The Rings spent the final part of his life in Bournemouth accompanied by his wife Edith.

He had previously come on holiday to the seaside town every summer for 30 years, always staying in the same room at the Hotel Miramar.

He lived in a house off Branksome Chine from the 1960s until his death in 1973.

Read more: JRR Tolkien’s fireplace attracts £50k bid on eBay

Zoot Money

George Bruno "Zoot" Money is a vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader.

Money is best known for his playing of the Hammond organ and association with his Big Roll Band. He took his stage name 'Zoot' from Zoot Sims after seeing him in concert.

Inspired by Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles, he was drawn to rock and roll music and became a leading light in the vibrant music scene of Bournemouth and Soho during the 1960s. He can still be seen playing live concerts across the country and has recently played at the Jazz Cafe in Sandbanks.

Here's some other famous people from Bournemouth