This year has once again been a big one for some of Oldham's celebrities, both established and up-and-coming.
Some Oldham actors were at the front and centre of some of the country's favourite TV shows, while others made splashes for different reasons.
The Oldham Times has looked at the success of some of Oldham's celebs, both human and canine, while also looking ahead to what is coming next for others.
Sarah Lancashire
Of all of Oldham's celebrities, Sarah Lancashire might well have had the biggest year in 2023 as she starred in the hit TV series Happy Valley, which saw her pick up numerous awards.
The Yorkshire-based drama aired in February this year and took the nation by storm, with Lancashire stealing the show as the no-nonsense Sergeant Catherine Cawood.
Lancashire's gripping performance saw her win both best drama performance and the special recognition award at the National Television Awards (NTAs) in September, as well as a Rose d'Or award last month.
Despite her on screen success, the 59-year-old Oldhamer bravely opened up about her struggles with menopause, admitting to having struggles with brain fog, memory and heat.
Millie Gibson
Oldham-trained actress Millie Gibson made her debut appearance as Doctor Who's new sidekick in the Christmas Day special of the new series.
The 19-year-old, who was trained at the Oldham Theatre Workshop, starred as the Time Lord's new companion Ruby Sunday in the first Christmas Day special for the sci-fi staple since 2017, The Church On Ruby Road.
She will continue as Ruby Sunday in the upcoming series, which will air in May 2024.
Gibson is best known for her role as Kelley Neelan in Coronation Street, but this is her biggest role yet as she is introduced to an international audience, despite still being a teenager.
Kevin Sinfield
Oldham hero Kevin Sinfield completed his 7 in 7 ultramarathon challenge in aid of motor neurone disease (MND), which has raised more than £1m.
The 43-year-old rugby legend and fundraising extraordinaire was cheered to the finish line as he ran up The Mall in London on December 7 as he completed seven ultra marathons in as many days in seven cities around Britain and Ireland.
Sinfield, the current England rugby union defence coach, completed the gruelling runs in an effort to raise money for MND, which his former teammate and close friends Rob Burrow suffers from.
Along with his latest incredible physical achievement, Sinfield released a book along with Burrow titled With You Every Step, which celebrates the friendship between the two.
Kelvin Fletcher
The actor, best known for playing Andy Sugden on Emmerdale for 20 years, traded script-reading for farm work in 2020 and this year saw him and his family open up about life on their new 120-acre farm in Wincle, near Macclesfield.
Fletcher's Family Farm ran for eight weeks on ITV this year, documenting the lives of Kelvin, his wife Liz Marsland and their four young children.
The 39-year-old and his family were set to move to California before the pandemic but have since taken a drastic change of course, which they have now shared with the public.
Chilli, aka Linda Biscuits
A fox red Labrador from Oldham won the nation's hearts and hogged the limelight on Joe Lycett's hit Channel 4 show, Late Night Lycett.
Four-year-old Chilli, famously known as Linda Biscuits on the show, became a running joke for the series and after the comedian and host joked that she had been fired, a petition was launched by fans to bring her back.
The pooch was brought back by popular demand and became part of the comedy programme's filming team.
In Chilli's day-to-day life, she helps save canine lives by travelling across the UK with her human handler, Rachel Bean, who hails from Saddleworth, as the pair give first aid demonstrations to pet professionals and individuals.
And looking ahead to 2024... Olivia Cooke
The Oldham actor starred in the hit HBO series House of the Dragon, which first aired in 2022.
She will return to screens next year, with the second series of the Game of Thrones spin-off expected to air in the summer.
The 30-year-old split the role of Alicent Hightower in the first series with Emily Carey, who played the younger version of the character, however Cooke will have the role to herself moving forward.
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