It has been a busy year for Oldham’s celebrities.
From starring in hit TV shows to raising millions for charity, famous Oldhamers have been sharing their talents with the world and putting their home town on the map.
Here’s our round-up of what Oldham’s most well known sons and daughters have been up to in 2025 – and what we can expect from them in the new year.
Siobhan Finneran
Best known for her roles in Downton Abbey and Happy Valley, the Oldham-born actress had a strong start to the year with the release of ITV crime drama Protection in March.
The six-part series, which starred Finneran as Liz Nyles, a detective who gets caught up in scandal following a murder at a witness protection facility, was a particular favourite among our readers.
Finneran also has some exciting projects in the works, including an upcoming cult thriller series for Netflix titled Out of the Dust, which also stars Christopher Eccleston, and a Black Mirror-style sci-fi film.
In November, it was also announced that she will be reprising her role as prison chaplain Marie-Louise in the BBC series Time, alongside David Tennant.
Suranne Jones
Suranne Jones launched her career as Karen McDonald in Coronation Street but has since become one of the most celebrated British television actors.
This year, she has starred in three very different but successful new series. The first to hit our screens in July was Hostage, a political thriller for Netflix in which she plays the British Prime Minister.
Shortly after, in October, she starred in ITV’s Spain-set heist drama Frauds alongside Jodie Whittaker, followed by a supporting role in Aimee-Lou Wood’s dramedy Film Club.
Jones has mentioned her Oldham roots a couple of times during interviews and podcast appearances.
She told Vernon Kay on the Tracks of My Years show about attending the Oldham Theatre Workshop as a teenager, and she also spoke to fellow Oldhamer Nick Grimshaw on his food podcast Dish about gravy and chippy teas.
Jones also has some projects to look out for in 2026 including series three of Vigil and the long-awaited return of Doctor Foster.
Sarah Lancashire
Yet another heavyweight in British TV, Sarah Lancashire, has had a fairly quiet year in terms of new releases, but it has not been without achievements.
In July, the 60-year-old was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for her contribution to drama after being named in the New Years Honours List.
It was also announced that her Netflix spy thriller, Black Doves, which premiered last Christmas, will be making a comeback in the new year.
Olivia Cooke
From veterans of the small screen to a rising star on the big screen – Olivia Cooke is best known for her role in the Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon, but she has also starred in films such as Ready Player One and Sound of Metal.
Her big release of the year was a starring role in Amazon Prime’s psychological thriller series The Girlfriend, which also starred House of Cards’ Robin Wright.
She also appeared in an edition of Architectural Digest, showing readers around her London home, described as a ‘70s Japanese shag pad’.
Despite the fame, it seems as though Cooke has not forgotten her roots. In July, she was spotted having tea at the Puckersley Inn in Royton and she has also been singing the praises of her favourite chippy, the Ree Ming.
Cooke has been busy filming series three of HBO’s House of Dragon, which will be airing in summer 2026.
She also has two other film projects coming up – an Alps-set thriller alongside Helen Mirren and an Italy-set vampire film.
Kelvin Fletcher
The Strictly-winning actor-turned-farmer has continued to charm audiences in 2025 on his reality show Fletchers’ Family Farm.
The third season aired this autumn, breaking the devastating news that the farm had been damaged by a fire.
Elsewhere in Fletcher news, the farm launched their own gin brand and Kelvin presented an award at the British Soap Awards, together with his daughter, Hollyoaks actress Marnie.
Professor Brian Cox
The broadcaster and physicist came back to Oldham this summer for the Great Horizon event, which aimed to encourage more young people into STEM fields.
He was also spotted at the Ree Ming chippy in Royton, which Olivia Cooke also praised in 2025, and at Wembley in June, when he supported Latics as they secured their promotion in the National League play-off final.
In 2026, the particle physicist will be heading out on his “most ambitious” tour yet, taking his new show ‘Emergence’ around the world.
Professor Cox has also been keeping us entertained on social media, where he has been debunking speculation about alien spaceships heading to Earth, calling out AI fakes of himself and arguing the case for the first city on Mars to be named Oldham.
Kevin Sinfield
The Oldham rugby legend has raised over £1million this year, raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease in memory of his friend and colleague Rob Borrows, who died in 2024.
In December, he completed his gruelling ‘7 in 7’ challenge, which saw him take on seven ultramarathons in seven days in seven cities.
Sinfield, who was made a CBE in 2024, has now raised over £11million since Burrows’ diagnosis, announced ambitions for next year’s fundraising challenge after concluding 2025’s at Headingley Stadium.
He told BBC Breakfast that he plans to end 2026’s challenge at the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford on October 3.
A documentary was also released about Sinfield in May, all about his fundraising efforts.
And while he has missed out now a knighthood yet again in 2026, he was honoured in his hometown Oldham when residents voted to name one of the Civic Tower peregrine falcons after him.
Honourable mentions
There are several other Oldham celebrities that also deserve a mention in this year’s round-up for their achievements.
Failsworth-born comedian Josh Jones embarked on his ‘I haven’t won the lottery, so here’s another show’ tour in 2025, which followed a brief appearance on Dancing on Ice
The 32-year-old was forced to pull out due to an ankle injury in the early stages of the competition.
In February, Radio DJ Nick Grimshaw became the new host of BBC Radio 6 breakfast show, which caused some discussion among the die-hard fans of the music station online.
Nineties heartthrob Mark Owen, together with the two other remaining members of Take That, Gary Barlow and Howard Donald, announced in September that they will be touring with their Circus show again in 2026.
Share