From top comedians to best-selling authors and from an NHS manager to a Kiss FM presenter, poet Lemn Sissay has compiled this amazingly inspirational list of people from across the UK who were fostered, adopted or spent time in children’s homes. He has met most of them on his travels. They are all incredible people listed in no particular order. Click on their links below to find out more. This list is unique and made over some years, and was originally published by Lemn on his blog. Please join us in sharing this list far and wide.
- Kris Akabusi – CEO
- Pandora Christie – radio presenter
- Dame Elizabeth Anionwu – Emeritus Professor of Nursing at the University of West London
- Mike Fuller – former assistant Commissioner of the Met and Chief Constable of Kent
- Martin Figura – retired Army Major, poet and photographer
- Benjamin Perks – UN Human Rights Diplomat
- Jenni Fagan – playwright, novelist and poet
- Kerry Little Ford – Hackney Council Head of Services
- Lola Young – Baroness in House of Lords
- Jackie Kay – Chancellor of University of Salford, poet laureate of Scotland
- Professor Jeanette Winterson – writer
- Alan Dapre – children’s author, former deputy head teacher
- Allan Jenkins – editor of Observer and author
- Dr Donna Neill – Head of Research at Ofsted
- Tom Riordan – Chief Executive of Leeds City Council
- Urban Phil – artist
- Meera Mistry – Senior NHS Manager
- Ms Jones – FE lecturer and trained accountant
- John Thomson – actor and comedian
- Samantha Morton – Oscar-nominated actor
- Philip Sinden – photographer for Vogue, etc.
- Marcus Clarke – BAFTA winning puppeteer
- Ronnie Archer-Morgan – Antiques Road Show presenter
- Ivor Frank – Barrister and Chair of Independent Enquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
- Leon Reid – Olympic medal winner
- Floella Benjamin – TV producer, presenter, author, Baroness
- Deborah Frances White – comedian, speaker and podcaster
- Dr Sylvan Baker – lecturer in community performance at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
- Mo Jamil – winner of THE VOICE
- Alan Dapre – author
- Luis De Abreu – Deputy Principal of Bird College of Performing Arts
- Rob Newman – comedian and writer
- Rhona Cameron – comedian
- Stewart Lee – comedian
- Luke Wright – poet, performer
- Patience Agbabi – author
- Ashley John Baptiste – TV presenter and producer
- Lord Andrew Adonis – House of Lords
- Sally Bayley – novelist
- Keith Saha – writer and artistic director of 20 Stories High
- Pete Turner – bass player in Elbow
- Paul Cookson – children’s author
- Jamie Baulch – gold-winning athlete and TV presenter
- Mike Timms – CEO of MTN-Ltd
- Rosie Canning – author
- Ryan Smith – chef
- Lisa-Marie – qualified pastry chef
- Jon Moss – Culture Club
- Lisa Cherry – Author and speaker
- Barry K Sharp – founder of Duffer St George, musician & author
- Jenny Molloy – Times best-selling Author
- Terry Jones – Founder of ID magazine
- Chris Wild – actor
- Lenox Cato – Antiques Road Show presenter
- Subrina Kidd – hair stylist to the stars
- Olivier Rousteing – world-class Designer
- Lucy Sheen – actor, writer, filmmaker
- Precious Williams – author
- Mark Steel – comedian, broadcaster and writer
- John Bird – Baron and founder of The Big Issue
- Kathy Burke – actor
- David Dickinson – English antiques expert and TV presenter
- Steven Berkoff – actor
- Allan Ahlberg – author
- John Fashanu – TV presenter and former footballer
- Neil Morrissey – actor, presenter
- Goldie – musician and artist
- Vanessa Gebbie – author
- Tricky – musician, lyricist and artist
- Pauline Black – actor and singer
- Hannah Pool – CEO at Bernie Grant Arts Centre, producer, journalist, author
- Ben Ashcroft – author and advocate
- Mark Bright – former footballer Sports TV presenter
- Michael Gove – Cabinet Minister
- Lorraine Pascale – model, author, TV presenter
- Kerry Katona – TV celebrity
- Richard McCann – motivational speaker and Times best-selling author
- Ian Dickenson – care advocate
- Debby Harry – singer
- Alex Wheatle – author
- Seal – singer
- Shonagh Woodburn-Hall – actor
- Fatima Whitbread – sportswoman
- Jayne Casey – artistic director
- Tony Morris – TV presenter
- Nicky Campbell – TV presenter
- Bruce Oldfield – couture designer
- David Akinsanya – TV presenter and advocate
- Louise Wallwein MBE – writer and performer
- Sophie Willen – comedian
- Lemn Sissay – Chancellor of the University of Manchester
- Baz Bamigboye – columnist and entertainment writer
- Kerry Hudson – author
- Vashti Kincaid Smith – Cambridge University undergraduate and novelist
- Paul Sams – archaeologist, heritage manager
You can view the list as it was originally published on Lemn’s blog here.
