Richard (Dickie) Dawson was born Colin Emm in Gosport and lived in Durley Road and Queens Road.  At 14 he joined the Merchant Navy and took up boxing during his three-year stint.  Back in Gosport he worked as a conductor on Provincial buses.  Remembered by most for Hogan's Heroes (Cpl Peter Newkirk)  website link

Diana Dors was a regular visitor to Gosport.  Her connections with Gosport were the family of Colin Emm, whom she married in 1959. www.dianadors.co.uk

Nat Gonella, jazz singer and musician who moved to Gosport in 1977 and lived in Clayhall Road with his wife.  Raglan House in Gordon Road was his home in his later years.  He died in 1998.  Many accolades on the jazz websites  website link

Joe Jackson the singer-songwriter moved reluctantly to Gosport from Paulsgrove with his family when he was a teenager and lived in Meadow Walk and Shaftesbury Road.  He started writing songs at age 11 and perhaps is best remembered for 'Is She Really Going Out With Him' and 'It's Different For Girls'   website link

Peter O'Flaherty, the bass guitarist with Simon Dupree & the Big Sound, was born and brought up in Gosport (The Crossways), and went to St Mary's School in Anns Hill Road. From 1963 to 1973 − before, during and after the Dupree years − he lived above Hugs the Jewellers in the High Street.  In 1973 he emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand, where he still lives.  Before finding fame with the Big Sound he played in local Gosport band The Classics

Tony Ransley, the drummer with Simon Dupree & the Big Sound, was born and brought up in Gosport.  After pop fame he ran a gents hairdressing salon in Brockhurst Road Gosport. Believed to be now living in the Stubbington area.  Before the Big Sound he played in local Gosport band The Classics along with Peter O'Flaherty 

Phil Shulman,  vocalist, sax and trumpet player with Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, was born in Glasgow but moved to Portsmouth early in his life.  During the Dupree years he lived in Portsmouth, as did his brothers Ray and Derek (Simon Dupree).  After leaving Gentle Giant, which the Shulmans formed after the Big Sound, Phil went back to teaching, and then ran the Rainbow's End gift shop in Stoke Road Gosport with his wife.  Now retired and living in Hardway.  For more about the Shulmans and Gentle Giant visit blazemonger website

Mike Hugg (Hug) hails from Gosport and was the drummer with Manfred Mann, and the co-founder of the group.  He co-wrote the hit single 5-4-3-2-1, which was also the theme tune for Ready Steady Go.  He had a hit single under the name Highly Likely with the theme song for Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads sitcom (What Happened To You)

In 1972 he wrote and sang Blue Suede Shoes Again.  The Village Home pub in Alverstoke gets a mention along with other Gosport places (and Julie, Norman and Deirdre).  Listen to it on Youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DjCeug46No

Still touring with The Manfreds   website link

Marcus Patric, actor.  Gosport born and bred and bred Marcus (Patrick Gosling) starred in Hollyoaks and Echo Beach.  Winner of 71 Degrees North  website

George Costigan, actor.  TV: Widows, So Haunt Me, The Long Firm, See No Evil, Emmerdale, Happy Valley.  Films: Rita Sue and Bob Too, The Hawk, Calendar Girls.  George's parents followed his career from their home in Forton Road  website link

Diane Keen lived and went to school in Gosport.  Cuckoo Waltz (TV sitcom), film Nowhere in Africa, BBC's Doctors  website link

Keith Allen lived in Gosport and went to Brune Park school.  Martin Chuzzlewit (TV series), Bodies (TV), Robin Hood (TV, Sheriff of Nottingham).  Gosport and Brune Park are mentioned in his biography Grow Up    website link

Ian Bartholomew was born and brought up in Gosport and went to Brune Park School.  Harry, Without Motive, Coronation Street, and plenty of theatre   website

Wally Barnes was a promising boxer as a boy in Gosport in the 1930s, but he chose football and went on to play for Southampton and Arsenal (FA Cup winning side 1950), and internationally for Wales

Lilian Harry, author, born and bred in Gosport, and some of her wartime romantic novels are set in Portsmouth.  Lilian now lives in Dartmoor.  The Girls They Left Behind, PS I Love You, Wives and Sweethearts, to name but a few of her books  website

Philippa Gregory, author − Wideacre, A Respectable Trade, The Other Boleyn Girl, The White Queen.  Philippa was a reporter for the Portsmouth News in the early 1980s and was based at the Gosport branch office at 42 High Street.  Her byline in those days was Pippa Gregory   www.philippagregory.com