There's quite a few famous faces that have graced Leeds Beckett and Uni of Leeds' campuses over the years, including Hollywood actors, politicians, musicians and more.
Whilst there's plenty more Leeds university alumni to be uncovered, we've picked 15 faces from across Leeds' universities that you might not have known spent time studying for their degrees in our city...
Image: Bastille, Facebook
Dan Smith. / Image: Wikicommons
BRIT award winner and lead singer of Bastille, Dan Smithstudied English (2007) at the University of Leeds and will be returning this year to play a set at Millennium Square to celebrate 10 years of debut album Bad Blood.
Emma Mackey. / Image: Emma Mackey, Instagram
Chris Pine. / Image: Wikicommons
Sex Education and Barbie actress Emma Mackey (2016) and Hollywood actor Chris Pine both also attended the university.
Pine completed a year abroad at the university, and recently admitted on radio that he had a go at the infamous Otley Run during his stint living on Brudenell Road, saying "I don’t remember much of it but yes I have done it.”
Keir Starmer. / Image: Wikicommons
Alastair Campbell. / Image: Wikicommons
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer also studied at the university, as well as former Government WhipAlastair Campbell, who got his PGCE in the city.
Ricky Wilson. / Image: Kaiser Chiefs
ALT-J. / Image: Wikicommons
Kaiser Chiefsfrontman Ricky Wilson completed a Graphic Arts & Design honours degree (2000) in the first few years of the band's beginning, going on to shoot to fame just five years later when I Predict A Riot became a must-download track for the nation.
Similarly, members of alt-indie band Alt-J also met whilst studying Fine Art and English Literature (2007).
Alistair and Jonny Brownlee. / Image: The Brownlee Brothers, Facebook
Sportswise, we're not short of athletes from the local area, but perhaps most notably the Brownlee brothers have become known as one of the university's most successful alumni.
Alistair Brownlee MBE studied Sports Science and Physiology (2009) and Jonny Brownlee MBE, History (2012) and both brothers received an LLD in 2013.
Michael Lawrence. / Image: Leeds Beckett University
Former IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington reportedly studied Dental Technology (2013) and in the world of rugby, Leeds Beckett University saw no less than fourteen students, graduates, and members of staff taking part in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, including BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science student and Leeds Rhinos player Keara Bennett and Jamaica captain Michael Lawrence, who graduated with a degree in Sports Coaching.
Jay Rayner. / Image: Jay Rayner, Instagram
Jay Rayner studied Political Studies (1987) and recently revisited the city to review MorMor's residency at Kino as well as heading back to Leeds Kirkgate Markets to grab a mackrel sarnie from Mr Mackrel, ‘the best £5 you can spend on lunch anywhere in Leeds’ according to the food critic.
Jamie Morton, James Cooper and Alice Levine. / Image: My Dad Wrote A Porno, Twitter
Jamie Morton, James Cooper and Alice Levine, hosts of My Dad Wrote A Porno first met at the University of Leeds and came together to produce a six seasoned podcast that has been downloaded over 430 million times since first airing in 2015.
Feature Image - Wikicommons / Instagram
Which famous faces should we add to our Leeds alumni list? Let us know by sending a message to @thehootleeds on Twitter.
Leeds
Pretty Woman The Musical will be returning to the stage in Leeds next year
This is your chance to experience one of Hollywood’s best-loved romcoms of all time, as following a record-breaking run in the West End and a sell-out first UK tour in 2023, Pretty Woman The Musical is heading back out the road again next year, and it’ll be taking to one of Leeds' most iconic stages.
With direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, an original score by Grammy winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton, it’s no wonder Pretty Woman The Musical is one of the most popular productions of the 21st century.
Image: Supplied
Just like the 1990 film of the same name, Pretty Woman The Musical tells the story of Vivian and Edward, two unlikely soulmates who overcome all odds to find each other… and themselves.
The musical – which is described as being a ‘dazzlingly joyous love story for the ages’ – lets you experience all the moments you know and love from the movie, all while getting to know these iconic characters in a whole new way.
Image: Supplied
Stopping off at Leeds Grand Theatre next summer, the show will be in our city from 27 July through to 31 July 2027, before visiting other northern cities like York, Sunderland, Hull, and Liverpool, as well as major locations like Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Cardiff.
You can find out more about when to buy your tickets for Pretty Woman at Leeds Grand Theatre here.
A brand-new bakery from the masterminds behind Silver’s Deli is opening in Leeds next week
Clementine Hall
Silver's Deli is opening up a sister shop, and this time it's about everything baked.
We all know and love Silver's Deli for their stacked subs and breakfast sandwiches that could cure any hangover no matter how severe.
They're so good, that they even bagged the coveted Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year Award last year.
And rightly so, because everything Silver's do is absolutely class.
The progress so far. Images: The Hoot Leeds
And it seems there's just no stopping Silver's, as last month they announced that they'll be opening a sister shop named 'Silver's Bakehouse' serving up everything, yep you guessed it, baked.
What exactly has not yet been revealed, with owner Chris keeping details tightly under wraps.
But what we do know is that every single thing will be made fresh, with love, in-house, at their new brand spanking new location in Farsley.
They've been keeping adoring fans updated on their socials with renovation updates, and it's already looking absolutely top tier.
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, Silver's Deli said: "Well it’s happening. I said no more shops, but it’s kinda necessary, and I just love all things baked.
"There’s waaaaaaaaay too many details to share on this right now, but go give our sister shop @silvers_bakehouse a new follow and hold on tight. This is gonna be fun as fuck."
We're in no doubt that this venture is going to be absolutely brilliant, and you best believe we'll be first in line to try one of those brownies.
Silver's Bakehouse will be located on Town Street in Farsley and is opening next Friday 22 May - just in time for the late May bank holiday weekend. We'll see you there.
Read more: A Caribbean street food restaurant famed for its jerk chicken is opening in Leeds this week
Sophie Smith -
6th April 2023 
