Watford has seen its fair share of famous faces around the town in the last few months.

After the cast of the latest series of Big Brother was snapped in the area on Monday, we look back on some of the other celebrity sightings. 

These are seven of the biggest names that have recently been spotted in Watford, Bushey, Choreywood and Hemel Hempstead:

Gemma Collins

TOWIE reality TV star Gemma Collins headed to Watford last September when she teamed up with TK Maxx.

Watford Observer: Gemma Collins leaving the Atria Watford TK Maxx store. Gemma Collins leaving the Atria Watford TK Maxx store. (Image: TK Maxx)She said: “Everyone knows I’m a big personality with a bold personal style to match, but I wanted to shake things up in the most unexpected way and show everyone the GC can tone down her look, without toning down her character." 

She was pictured in two outfits at the atria outlet to promote the trend “quiet luxury”, which means neutral colours and classic silhouettes.

Watford Observer: Gemma Collins exploring the quiet luxury in Atria Watford's TK Maxx. Gemma Collins exploring the quiet luxury in Atria Watford's TK Maxx. (Image: TK Maxx)

 

Tom Fletcher 

McFly star Tom Fletcher paid a visit to the Watford Palace Theatre to watch the premier of his first musical Monster in Your Show.

The musician was joined by McFly bandmate Dougie Poynter and wife, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here winner Giovanna Fletcher, as well as their three children, Buzz, Buddy, and Max outside the venue on October 13.

Watford Observer: Tom Fletcher's new musical There's a Monster in Your Show debuted at the Palace Theatre last year.Tom Fletcher's new musical There's a Monster in Your Show debuted at the Palace Theatre last year. (Image: Newsquest)

Tom praised the “beautiful” theatre and said the location had “worked out perfectly” as he lives locally.

Cheryl 

Former Girls Aloud member Cheryl delighted fans in Chorleywood when she visited the Mission EmployAble's Café on the Common.

The charity told The Watford Observer of how the popstar signed her autograph for the café's intern George before putting her arm around him and praising his customer service abilities.

Watford Observer: Thank you to Cheryl for popping in - it was great to meet you!Thank you to Cheryl for popping in - it was great to meet you! (Image: Mission EmployAble)

Cass Langham, Training Manager at Mission EmployAble said at the time: “It was a real pleasure to have Cheryl stop by our Café on the Common and show her support for the charity, and for George to receive some lovely feedback.”

 Ellie Leach

Strictly Come Dancing winner Ellie Leach was the “talk of the village” after being spotted celebrating her triumph at The Boot, in The Green, Sarratt.

Ellie Leach visited the pub with her family on December 17 after the 22-year-old and her professional dance partner Vito Coppola were handed the glitterball trophy the night before at the Strictly finals.

Watford Observer: Ellie Leach with The Boot Sarratt staff (left to right) Ciara, Ellie, Sophie, and owner Zoe.Ellie Leach with The Boot Sarratt staff (left to right) Ciara, Ellie, Sophie, and owner Zoe. (Image: The Boot Sarratt.)

According to staff, the “bubbly” former Coronation Street actor was “absolutely lovely” and happy to take pictures with patrons as she enjoyed a pub lunch.

Ronan Keating 

Boyzone’s Ronan Keating shocked shoppers with an impromptu performance inside the Tesco Mobile store in Hemel Hempstead on January 15.

Watford Observer: Ronan Keating in the Hemel Hempstead Tesco Mobile.Ronan Keating in the Hemel Hempstead Tesco Mobile. (Image: Tesco Mobile)

The singer brought an acoustic guitar and was filmed singing twists on some of his biggest hits as part of a tour of the brand’s locations

Sharing a video to TikTok, one customer described the visit as “so bizarre” but added that she “loved it”.

@looceem8

Not me doing my shopping and stumbling across Ronan Keating in Tesco Mobile Hemel Hempstead?!

♬ original sound - Lucie May

“Not me doing my shopping and stumbling across Ronan Keating in Tesco Mobile Hemel Hempstead,” the shopper added.
 

Ricky Gervais

Comedian Ricky Gervais revealed he had stopped by Costco Watford when he shared a picture on social media platform X on February 5.

He said: “Just dropped off 600 bottles of Dutch Barn Vodka at Costco in Watford. Always working.”

Watford Observer: Ricky Gervais in Costco Watford. Ricky Gervais in Costco Watford. (Image: Ricky Gervais/X)

Gervais is a co-owner of Ellers Farm, which makes the vodka brand, and visited the wholesaler in Hartspring Lane, Bushey, to help the team unload a major order of the bottles.

Big Brother cast

The cast of the newest season of Celebrity Big Brother were snapped at a Watford hotel on March 3.

Watford Observer: Former TV presenter Fern Britton was snapped outside a Watford hotel ahead of the latest series of Big Brother.Former TV presenter Fern Britton was snapped outside a Watford hotel ahead of the latest series of Big Brother. (Image: PA)

Former TV presenter Fern Britton, Coronation Street’s Colson Smith, Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, YouTuber Zeze Mills, David Potts from Ibiza Weekender, and Strictly pro Nikita Kuzmin were among seen arriving at the hotel ahead of the show’s premier on Monday evening.

Watford Observer: Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu was also spotted in Watford on Monday, March 3.Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu was also spotted in Watford on Monday, March 3. (Image: PA)Meanwhile two of the bigger names set to appear on the show, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osborne, were not spotted.