International sports stars, actors, TV presenters and more, lots of people born in the city are very familiar faces.
Here is our tribute to 20 of the more well-known names linked to the city. This is not a definitive list – just a flavour of what we have had to offer the worlds of music, theatre, broadcasting, sport and beyond.
5. Ranvir Singh
Ranvir Singh is a Lancashire-born journalist, best known for her presenting roles on ITV Breakfast programmes Daybreak and Good Morning Britain. She was educated at Kirkham Grammar School and graduated from the University of Lancaster with a degree in English and Philosophy. She later completed a journalism course at the University of Central Lancashire.
6. Sir Tom Finney
Preston's favourite son. The late Sir Thomas 'Tom' Finney, remembered in above video clip, was an English footballer, famous for his loyalty to his League club, Preston North End, for whom he made 569 first-class appearances, and for his performances in the England national side. Born at home in Preston next to the Deepdale Stadium, his name is synonymous with the town and he is much loved by the people of the city. He was knighted in the 1998 New Year Honours.
7. Kenny Baker
Born in 1934, the actor and musician lived in Preston at the time of his death in 2016. He is best known for portraying the character R2-D2 in six of the Star Wars films. Baker, who stands 3 ft 8 in (112 cm) tall had formed a successful comedy act called the Minitones with entertainer Jack Purvis when George Lucas hired him to be the man inside R2-D2 in 1976. He was in multiple other films and later had a stand-up career.
8. John Inman
Born in Preston in 1935, the comedy actor and pantomime artist is best known for playing Mr. Humphries in Are You Being Served?