COULD you have gone to the same County Durham school as someone famous? 

It's easy to forget faces from primary school, secondary school and college, but whether you sat next to then in class or attended a few days later, you never know who might have gone on to have a thriving career in sports or on television.

Here are some of the famous faces that attended schools in County Durham: 

Rowan Atkinson - Chorister School, Durham

The Northern Echo: Rowan Atkinson. Picture: PARowan Atkinson. Picture: PA

Mr Atkinson went to school with the former Prime Minister Tony Blair at Chorister School, Durham, before going on to study electrical and electronic engineering at Newcastle University. 

The Consett-born actor is best known for his role on Blackadder and Mr Bean. Mr Akinson has a BAFTA and Olivier Award. 

He was also appointed a CBE in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity.

Bobby Robson - Langley Park Primary School, Durham 

The Northern Echo: September 3, 1999: Bobby Robson meets Newcastle fans outside the ground after being appointed the club's new managerSeptember 3, 1999: Bobby Robson meets Newcastle fans outside the ground after being appointed the club's new manager

Born in Sacriston, County Durham, Mr Robson went to Langley Park Primary School and then Waterhouses Secondary Modern School.

The son of a coal miner, Mr Robson often went to see Newcastle play with his dad and started playing for Langley Park Juniors when he was 11 years old. 

The footballer and manager, who went on to manage the English team, was offered a contract by Middlesbrough but he turned it down for Fulham. 

Mark Gatiss - Woodham Comprehensive School, Newton Aycliffe

The Northern Echo: Mark Gatiss. Picture: PAMark Gatiss. Picture: PA

Sedgefield-born Mike Gatiss is an actor, comedian, screenwriter, director, producer and novelist known for work including Doctor Who, Sherlock and Dracula.

Mr Gatiss, who also played Tycho Nestoris in Game of Thrones, attended Heighington Church of England Primary School and Woodham Comprehensive School in Newton Aycliffe before taking a job as an engineer at the School Aycliffe Mental Colony in Heighington.

Appearing frequently across BBC productions, Mr Gatiss is also a member of the sketch comedy team The League of Gentlemen.

Alun Armstrong - Consett Grammar School, Consett

The Northern Echo: Alun Armstrong. Picture: PAAlun Armstrong. Picture: PA

Mr Armstrong, an accomplished actor who spent nine years at the Royal Shakespeare Company, attended Annfield Plain Junior School, then Consett Grammar School. It was here where a teacher inspired him to try acting.

He has taken on roles in several Charles Dickens adaptations and as Thénardier London's Les Misérables.

My Armstrong, who is known professionally as Alun although his name is spelt Alan, won an Olivier Award for his role in Sweeney Todd.

Gina McKee - East Durham College, Peterlee 

The Northern Echo: Hebburn sent: Lisa McGrillis as Vicky Pearson, Gina McKee as Pauline Pearson, Jim Moir as Joe Pearson, Kimberley Nixon as Sarah, Chris Ramsey as Jack Pearson and Pat Dunn as DotHebburn sent: Lisa McGrillis as Vicky Pearson, Gina McKee as Pauline Pearson, Jim Moir as Joe Pearson, Kimberley Nixon as Sarah, Chris Ramsey as Jack Pearson and Pat Dunn as Dot

The BAFTA Award-winning actor, from Peterlee, has completed her A-Levels at East Durham College before applying to drama schools. 

Ms McKee has appeared in a range of TV and films including Our Friends in the North, Notting Hill and Hebburn.

She also played Commander Anne Sampson in the popular BBC/Netflix drama series Bodyguard.

Alexander Armstrong - Durham School, Durham 

The Northern Echo: Pointless host Alexander Armstrong brought his stand-up tour to Darlington in 2019Pointless host Alexander Armstrong brought his stand-up tour to Darlington in 2019

Mr Armstrong is an actor, TV and radio presenter and singer, best known as the host of BBC TV game show Pointless and as one half of the comedy duo Armstrong and Miller.

Although born in Northumberland, Mr Armstrong attended Durham School on a music scholarship. 

He took on a leading role in Life Bings and voiced an alien supercomputer in the Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures. 

Steph Houghton - Durham Sixth Form Centre, Durham

The Northern Echo: Steph Houghton (middle). Picture: PA Steph Houghton (middle). Picture: PA

Ms Houghton, a footballer who captains Manchester City and the England national team, went to Durham Sixth Form Centre.

The former South Hetton Primary School pupil, who started her career at Sunderland, was also called up to the first Great Britain women's side for the 2012 Olympics.

She was awarded an MBE in the 2016 New Year Honours list for services to football. 

Paul Collingwood - Blackfyne Comprehensive School (Consett Academy)

The Northern Echo: Paul Collingwood. Picture: PAPaul Collingwood. Picture: PA

Paul Collingwood, a former cricketer who captained Durham County Cricket Club, for the final six seasons of his career, attended Blackfyne Comprehensive School which is now Consett Academy. 

The Shotley Bridge man was part of Shotley Bridge's Under–13s team when he was just nine-years-old. 

Mr Collingwood was a regular member of the England Test side and captain of the One Day International (ODI) team from 2007 to 2008.