What do Doctor Who, Pat Butcher and an American gangster all have in common?

These characters are all played by alumni of Rose Bruford College in Sidcup.

The college offers degrees and vocational courses from a grade II listed mansion in Lamorbey Park where director Sir Richard Eyre is president.

Rose Bruford set up the college in 1950 after the Kent Education Committee offered her the use of the building for £5 a year.

Below are just five examples of the stars who graced the Sidcup drama school in their youth...

1. No one does unhinged better than New Cross-born Gary Oldman. He cut his teeth in a Sid Vicious biopic, Sid and Nancy, and has since helped the caped crusdader in Batman Begins and the Dark Knight. He also starred as Harry Potter's godfather Sirius Black in the film series.

News Shopper: Gary Oldman

2. Stephen Graham starred in the This is England films and starred as real-life gangster Al Copone with in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire alongside Steve Buscemi.

News Shopper: On the Boardwalk: Stephen Graham

3. Pam St. Clement played the iconic Pat Butcher, one of EastEnders’ longest running characters. She appeared in the soap for 26 years and attended Rose Bruford shortly after trying teaching. The 72-year-old hung up her dangly earrings in 2012 and now juggles charity work with occasional TV appearances.

News Shopper: I'M BACK: Pam St Clement  who played Pat Butcher in EastEnders

4. The fourth Doctor Who, Tom Baker, briefly studied at the college in the late 1950s after being impressed by its “idyllic country house atmosphere” according to his official website tombakerofficial.com. However the college was not for him, despite meeting his future wife there, and he dropped out because he found the course too traditional.

News Shopper: Tom Baker as Doctor Who

5. Sam Palladio may not be a household name yet but he is a main character in the US-based Nashville, has appeared in Episodes alongside Matt LeBlanc and has more than 87,000 Twitter followers. 

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