FROM actors and singers to artists and writers, Dorset is home to some of the most well-known faces in the UK.

Here is our list of Dorset celebrities.

Do you know anymore we can add on the list?

Have you been lucky enough to get snapped with one of the county's celebs? Send us your photos here.

Julian Fellowes

DOWNTON Abbey creator Julian Fellowes is an English actor, novelist, film director and screenwriter.

The proud Dorset resident said his favourite weekends are spent at home in the county with his wife Emma and their 20-year-old son Peregrine.

The West Stafford writer has captured the hearts of nine million viewers who tune into Downton Abbey, as well as being a patron for many county events and charities including Julia's House Children's Hospice.

Read our latest story on Julian here.

Dorset Echo: Julian Fellowes has said the Downton Abbey saga will not 'go on forever'

 

Perrie Edwards

LITTLE Mix star Perrie Edwards spent her early childhood in Weymouth, attending Radipole Primary School before moving to South Shields.

The singing sensation shot to fame on 2011's X Factor series after entering as a solo act and being placed in a band at bootcamp.

Originally the foursome were called Rhythmix, but changed to Little Mix after a copyright dispute.

The girls won the show under mentor Tulisa Contostavlos and hit Christmas number one with a Cannonball.

Perrie often visits Weymouth to see her family and is a regular reveller for the town's New Year's Eve events.

Read our exclusive story on Perrie's recent engagement to ID star Zayn here.

Dorset Echo: Perrie Edwards, right, shows off her engagement ring

 

Alan Carr

DORSET-born comedian Alan Carr broke through into the comedy circuit in 2001.

While he spent most of his childhood in Northampton, the chatty man was born in Weymouth and Portland.

His career took off on the Manchester comedy circuit before becoming known for hosting The Friday Night Project with Justin Lee Collins and later his chat show Alan Carr: Chatty Man, which has been airing since 2009.

Alan will be returning to the county next month to test out his material.

Read more about this here.

Dorset Echo: TV's Alan Carr’s work in progress heads to Dorset

 

Martin Clunes

BEST known for portraying Martin Ellingham in the hit ITV drama series Doc Martin, Martin Clunes is a proud patron of Dorset.

The ITV star hosts the well-known Buckham Fair every year on his land in Beaminster, attracting thousands of visitors.

He shot to fame after playing Gary Strang in Men Behaving Badly and has narrated a number of documentaries.

Read more about last year's Buckham Fair here.

Dorset Echo: Martin Clunes worries documentaries could spoil his acting career

Leslie Waters

CELEBRITY chef Leslie Waters lives in Evershot, Dorset in a sixteenth century manor house which has become the base for her Waters' Cookery School.

She moved to the county due to her love of Thomas Hardy novels and bought their home from punk singer and actress Toyah Willcox and her husband Robert Fripp.

Read more about Leslie at Bridport Food Festival last year here.

Dorset Echo: Leslie Waters’ pop-up cooking school at last year’s festival

Kate Adie

Kate Adie a is journalist whose most high profile role was that of chief news correspondent for BBC News.

She became well known for reporting from war zones around the world.

She lives near Cerne Abbas and recently hosted a talk in Dorchester.

Read more about that visit here.

Dorset Echo: OLD SOLDIER: Kate Adie

Billy Bragg

BURTON Bradstock resident Billy Bragg shot to fame as a singer-songwriter and a left-wing activist.

His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs.

In the past he has spent time working with Dorset teenagers and musicians to share his expertise.

Read our latest story on Billy here.

Dorset Echo: Billy Bragg

 

Ian Gillan

ROCK vocalist and songwriter Ian Gillan found commercial success as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple.

The frontman was the co-writer of hit Smoke On The Water and seller of more than one hundred million records.

He has been a proud Dorset resident for the past 18-years.

He told the Echo is happy with his modest home in Lyme Regis- complete with a potting shed, dried flowers in the kitchen and mugs with cats on.

Ian spoke to the Echo last year, read his interview here.

Dorset Echo: Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan on the band's new album and why he loves living in Dorset

PJ Harvey

POLLY Jean Harvey was born in Bridport and grew up on the family's farm in Corscombe.

She attended school nearby in Beaminster before she shot to fame as a musician, singer-songwriter, composer and artist.

She was awarded for her outstanding contribution to music and awarded an MBE for services to music last year.

Our latest story on PJ Harvey centres around an historic church where the award-winning singer recorded an album which is facing closure. Read more here.

Dorset Echo: PJ Harvey was guest editor of the BBC's special edition of the Today programme