The Hampshire towns where celebrities have been spotted including Alec Baldwin and Peter Crouch
Many of us associate Hampshire with quaint villages and secluded beaches, not as a center for celebrity visitors. Well, think again.
Over the past 12 months, Hollywood icons, sports heroes and pop stars have been spotted across the country – some in rather strange circumstances. Now, of course, we have our collection of celebrities closely associated with Hampshire, including Portsmouth-born Amanda Holden.
However, many have moved on and left their lives in the South behind, such as England Euro 2020 star Mason Mount. Luckily, Hampshire’s aforementioned quaint villages and secluded beaches draw the attention of many, which is highlighted by the number of TV shows filmed here.
READ MORE: Places in Hampshire where you’re most likely to bump into celebrities like Amanda Holden and Alan Titchmarsh
The new Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon, was reportedly partly filmed in Aldershot. Additionally, the village of Hartley Mauditt reportedly welcomed the crew for new ` drama Great Expectations.
With film crews come actors and with actors come fan sightings. Below are some of the best celebrity appearances in Hampshire over the last 12 months and where they took place.
Louis Tomlinson
Louis Tomlinson visited the Woolpack Inn in the New Forest
(Image: The Woolpack Inn)
Former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson has been spotted in the New Forest visiting a local pub. The Woolpack Inn is a charming thatched cottage pub just on the edge of the Hampshire border in Sopley. It’s popular with locals thanks to the warm and friendly atmosphere and delicious food.
On November 22 last year, the singer decided to stop by without warning. In a post on Facebook, the pub wrote: “We haven’t posted much as it’s our last week but I couldn’t help but if this guy shows up at your restaurant you must.
“What a gentleman to allow me and many customers and staff to take photos with him. Thanks.”
The visit came days before the two landlords handed over their keys before they retired and traveled around Europe.
Peter Crouch
The former Portsmouth and Southampton striker was pictured with fans at the Hart Leisure Center in Fleet earlier in March. Although it was unclear what prompted the visit, Hart Leisure Center said on Facebook Crouch was kind enough to snap a few photos with some members of the Everyone Active team.
Since retiring from football, Crouch has remained a hugely popular personality thanks in part to That Peter Crouch Podcast. Alongside Chris Stark and Tom Fordyce, Crouch shares funny anecdotes from his playing days as he discusses what life as a professional footballer is like.
It was announced days before his Fleet visit that the podcast would be returning, but Fordyce would not be attending due to “family reasons”.
Alec Baldwin
After arriving in the UK for a ‘secret project’, Alec Baldwin took to Alton High Street and told his Instagram followers about an unfortunate mishap involving his driver at the airport. Baldwin recorded a two-minute video on his phone explaining to fans that his driver’s car had been stolen.
On arrival in Britain, described by Baldwin’s best attempts at a British accent, the driver went to get his car but never returned. After 20 minutes, the 30 Rock star called the car service, who informed him that the driver had indeed had his car stolen.
Clearly amused by what had happened, Baldwin ended the video by saying, “I hope you found your car.” Whether the driver did it remains a mystery.
Elizabeth Debicki
Elizabeth Debicki pictured in Winchester
(Image: Steven Connell)
In December 2021, images circulated on social media of Elizabeth Debicki, who will portray Princess Diana in the final two series of The Crown alongside film crews in Winchester. Cast and crew were spotted filming on Kingsgate Street near Winchester Cathedral.
The Crown has, of course, been filmed in Winchester before, with filming taking place in the Cathedral, the Guildhall and near Winchester College. Australia’s Debicki sits in an old car on the back of a rotating car next to a man who a viewer said was Dominic West. He plays Prince Charles in the new series.
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