Below are 11 famous actors, announcers, athletes and more who have attended schools in Shropshire.
Sir Michael Palin
Sir Michael Palin, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019, is best known as a member of the comedy troupe Monty Python.
Starr left in 1962 before going on to read modern history at Brasenose College, Oxford, and will revisit his former education school, Shrewsbury School, in 2022.
These days the actor, comedian, author and presenter is enjoying a new adventure as a travel writer and documentarian for the BBC, which has taken him around the world, visiting the Arctic, Antarctica, the Sahara Desert, the Himalayas, Eastern Europe and Brazil.
The 81-year-old returned to the UK two years ago to open Shrewsbury School's Barnes Theatre.
Greg Davis
Born in St Asaph in Wales, Greg's father is said to have driven his mother across the border to see the birth star, to ensure he was eligible to play for the Wales national rugby team.
However, the 56-year-old never forged a successful career in the sport, although he did play W G Grace in a series of adverts for Channel 4's coverage of the 2005 Ashes series.
Growing up in Wem, Greg has tried his hand at it all – comedy, acting, presenting and writing. The 56-year-old attended Thomas Adams School in Wem.
The celebrity is best known for his impressive physique at 6 feet 8 inches tall and for his role as Mr. Gilbert in The Inbetweeners.
Charles Darwin
Born in Shrewsbury, Darwin is said to have attended a nearby boarding school with his brother Erasmus in September 1818, aged nine.
Darwin's name appears in the student roll at Shrewsbury School, and he became widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology.
Jesse Armstrong
Born in Oswestry in 1970, the well-known screenwriter and producer attended Marches School, Oswestry, before studying American Studies at Manchester University.
The 53-year-old has received numerous accolades, including a BAFA Award, three Golden Globe Awards and seven Primetime Emmy Awards.
Billy Wright
Regarded by many as Wolves' greatest ever player and one of England's greatest ever, Billy Wright was the first footballer in the world to win 100 international caps and it all began at Ironbridge.
Wright's father, Thomas, was born at 33 Belmont Road in February 1924 and worked in the Coalbrookdale Steelworks.
The Wolves legend attended Madeley Wood Methodist School and Madeley Modern School before captaining the national team and Wolves.
The Midland club were the only team Wright played for, making around 500 appearances.
Joe Hart
Another Shropshire great in football.
Joe Hart recently retired from professional football after a stellar career that began with Shrewsbury Town and saw spells at Manchester City and Celtic.
The provincial-born goalkeeper made 75 appearances for England.
The 37-year-old attended Oxon Primary School and then Meall Brace School, where he was president of the school's boys' club in his final year.
Nick Owen
BBC Midlands Today news presenter Nick Owen was recently awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours list for services to charity and broadcasting.
Owen was born in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, but attended Shrewsbury School from the age of 7 until 18.
Owen has been a television presenter at the Olympics and World Cup broadcasts, and was named Best On-Screen Personality at the Royal Television Society Midland Awards.
Richard Todd OBE
Irish-British actor Richard Todd won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role as Corporal Lachlan MacLachlan in the 1949 film Hasty Heart.
The actor died in 2009 at the age of 90. He was born in Ireland and spent his childhood in India after his family moved to Devon, where he attended Shrewsbury School.
Richard served as a Captain in the British Army during World War II and participated in the Normandy landings as part of the 7th Airborne Battalion.
Mary Beard
Born in Shrewsbury, Mary Beard was educated at Shrewsbury High School and then studied at Cambridge University.
This classicist specializes in ancient Rome and is a trustee of the British Museum.
Mary has been described as “Britain's most famous classics scholar”, due in part to her frequent media appearances and sometimes controversial public statements.
Mary was the presenter of the BBC Two show Pompeii: Life and Death of a Roman City, before going on to present Meet the Romans with Mary Beard in 2012, Caligula with Mary Beard in 2013 and Pompeii Revealed: New Secrets with Mary Beard in 2016.
James Taylor
Shrewsbury school has produced two outstanding English cricketers in the past 20 years, one of whom was James Taylor.
Leicestershire-born Taylor attended Shrewsbury School from 2003 to 2008, where he studied for his A-levels and played for the school's cricket team.
He went on to play for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and captain the England Lions before making his full debut for the national team.
Unfortunately, a serious heart condition forced Taylor to retire from all forms of cricket in April 2016.
Taylor was appointed to the England national team selectors two years later and appears regularly as an announcer.
Issy Wong
Cricketer Issy Wong is also a Shrewsbury School prodigy who currently plays for Warwickshire, Central Sparks, Birmingham Phoenix and Mumbai Indians.
The medium-fast pace bowler will make his England debut in June 2022, having started playing professionally for Warsickshire in 2019 whilst attending school in the county.
Issy attended Shrewsbury School from 2015-2020 and made history as the first girl to play for the boys' first team at Shrewsbury School.
