Born and raised in Hitchin, James is a popular singer/songwriter who achieved platinum chart success with a number one album ‘Chaos and the Calm’ and a number two single Hold Back the River. James has performed at the biggest festivals in the world from the Coachella Music Festival in the USA to the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury.

His double platinum debut album Chaos and The Calm entered the UK charts at No.1 and remained in the UK top 20 for 40 weeks. The album was Spotify’s 2nd most streamed album of 2015. James’ hard work and dedication to his craft has been recognised for industry awards such as BRIT Awards, Grammy nominations and an Ivor Novello award.

BAFTA award-winning broadcaster and vocal coach Carrie Grant celebrates an extensive career in television and the music industry. She is best known as vocal coach and judge on TV talent shows, Pop Idol and Fame Academy. Carrie sits on the largest Transforming Care Partnership Panel in the UK for Learning Disability and Autism, is an Ambassador for the National Autistic Society, has influenced government policy and supported the launch of the world’s first All Parliamentary Group for ADHD.

Luton born Andy Day is a BAFTA nominated children’s television presenter and performer with a career spanning 16 years on the children’s television channel Cbeebies. Andy’s shows specialise in educating children on natural world and natural history. Andy fronts his own band, Andy and the Odd Socks, who are patrons of the Anti-Bullying Alliance and have spearheaded National Anti- Bullying week through our primary schools. They have created Odd Socks day, the official start of Anti-Bullying week seeing schools nationwide encouraging children into school in odd socks, making a real difference in how schools address this very important issue.

Lyse Douchet is best known as Chief International Correspondent at the BBC where she has worked for more than 30 years. In 1994 she opened the BBC’s office in Amman, Jordan, and from 1995 was based in Jerusalem traveling across the Middle East. Lyse has covered all major wars in the Middle East since the mid 1990’s including the devastating war in Syria, as well as focusing on the aftermath of major natural disasters including the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.

Bedfordshire alumni Rickie and Melvin were students graduating with degrees in Media. Rickie and Melvin present the BBC Radio One’s Live Lounge slot and having previously presented other shows on Radio One and Kiss FM. Their work for Kiss FM’s Breakfast Show earned them Silver and Gold in the Sony Radio Awards for Best Breakfast Show. Together they have presented many notable TV shows such as the Big Brother spin off show Big Brother’s Big Mouth, BBC Threes Sweat the Small Stuff, coverage of the BRIT and BAFTA awards, whilst working for both MTV and ITV. Rickie and Melvin are proud celebrity ambassadors for the Prince’s Trust charity.

In 1991 John became widely recognised internationally as the Prisoner of War shot down over Iraq on the first day of the Gulf War. After seven weeks in captivity John returned to the RAF with an experience that transformed his life but also helped to transform many others since. After leaving the RAF John completed his MBA and began a consultancy business, working with several management education-based organisations. John created the Human Factors Cultural Change programme and was awarded a Flight International Aerospace Industry Award for Training and Safety. John has co-written two best-selling books and has made BAFTA nominated documentary ‘Tornado Down’ which won Independent Documentary of the Year.

Milton Keynes based London 2012 Olympic gold medalist and long jump star, Greg Rutherford MBE, along with Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah were part of that 'Super Saturday' when Team GB romped home with three golds in 46 minutes.

Local actor Colin Salmon is best known for his roles in three James Bond films and TV shows like Doctor Who, as well as a stint on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. Colin moved to Luton as a baby and went to Ashcroft High School.

Faye grew up in Dunstable and is one fifth of the pop group Steps. With the group Faye has enjoyed incredible success selling over 25 million records including 15 million albums, two UK Number one singles and 14 UK Top 10 hits. Alongside her music Faye has appeared in numerous television programmes and theatre productions and was a finalist in the ballroom talent show Strictly Come Dancing. Faye has been involved in a number of different charity ventures over the years for Red Sky Foundation, the Charlie and Carter Foundation and Future Dreams.

Jack Thorne is a successful British scriptwriter who began his writing career in Luton. Jack made his theatre debut with play ‘You Cure Me’ at the Royal Court Theatre in London and has gone on to have works performed on Broadway. For television, Jack is the writer behind the BBC adaptation of Pullman’s classic literacy trilogy ‘His Dark Materials’ and has penned other popular dramas such as; Kiri, The Virtues and The Accident. His film credits include Wonder and The Aeronauts. Jack’s work has been celebrated with a number of awards including; 5 BAFTAS, Olivier Awards and multiple Tony Award.

Richard is a committed environmentalist and Managing Director of Iceland Foods. Richard has led the way on Iceland’s world-leading sustainability initiatives including; becoming the first major retailer globally to commit to eliminating plastic packaging from its own label range by the end of 2023; taking action against the continuing destruction of our rainforests as the first major UK supermarket to announce the removal of palm oil ingredients from its own label food, and the first UK retailer to adopt the Plastic Free Trust Mark by introducing the publication of the full plastic footprint of the business.