Oxford News
5 famous celebrities rejected by Oxford University
After completing his undergraduate law degree at the University of Leeds, Sir Keir Starmer went on to study at St Edmund Hall, where he earned a postgraduate Bachelor of Civil Law degree in 1986.
Other famous alumni include Hugh Grant, Bill Clinton and Imran Khan, as well as Harry Potter actress Emma Watson have been studying at the university.
But there is also a long list of famous faces who were not so fortunate, and ended up being rejected by the university.
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Peep Show star David Mitchell, who is now appearing in new BBC detective drama Ludwig, grew up in Oxford and applied to study at Merton College, but was rejected.
David Mitchell (Image: BBC/Big Talk Studios/Olly Courtney)
He went to Cambridge University instead, where he joined the Footlights comedy troupe and met his long-time comedy partner Robert Webb.
Prominent Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan has revealed she was rejected by Oxford University.
She went on to earn her degree from Columbia University in New York before launching her successful film career.
Rob Rinder, also known as Judge Rinder, is now a barrister and TV star.
He applied to Oxford University to study politics, philosophy, and economics (PPE) but was turned down.
Judge Rinder (Image: Contributed)
He later told the Evening Standard that being rejected by Oxbridge was “the best thing that ever happened to me”.
In 1982, at the age of 17, JK Rowling took the entrance exam for Oxford University and got rejected.
She was accepted by Exeter University to study languages and classics, and went on to write the Harry Potter novels which were then adapted for movies.
JK Rowling (Image: Ian West/PA)
In 2000, Laura Spence was refused a place at Magdalen College after gaining five A grades in her A-levels.
Gordon Brown, who was chancellor at the time, labelled Oxford’s decision to reject her “an absolute scandal”.
Ms Spence, who took her A-levels at Monkseaton community high school in Whitley Bay, was then offered a £35,000 scholarship to study at Harvard University in America.
Oxford News
Harley Davidson crash – Motorists told to avoid rural road
The crash was on the B4015 Clifton Hampden Road, which was closed between the A4074 and Chiselhampton Village.
Thames Valley Police has confirmed the road will be closed for several hours and motorists are being told to avoid the area.
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Police said: “The B4015 Clifton Hampden Road, Oxfordshire is currently closed following a serious collision. The B4015 is closed between the A4074 and Chiselhampton Village whilst officers investigate a serious collision.
“This closure is anticipated to be in place for a number of hours – please avoid the area and find an alternative route.
“If you were on the B4015 around 07:50 this morning, Sunday 9th August, and witnessed the collision, or a Harley Davidson Motorcycle in the moments leading up to the collision, please contact Thames Valley Police quoting reference 43260411339.”
The road re-opened at around 11.25am.
Oxford News
Truck Festival 2026 at Hill Farm, Oxfordshire ‘was best ever’
A record crowd of 27,500 people descended on Hill Farm, Steventon, near Didcot, for four days of live music and dancing from an impressive bill of big name stars and up-and-coming acts.
Organisers have now finished tidying up the site, which for rest of the year is a peaceful mixed arable and dairy farm.
While always a sell-out event, this year’s festival attracted a record crowd – with families of young children making up much of the increased numbers. They joined a friendly crowd made up of everyone from enthusiastically partying teenagers to veteran artists and festival-goers and volunteers serving up treats to revellers to raise money for local charities and good causes.
Truck Festival, Steventon, 2026. Picture by Tim Hughes
They enjoyed an array of rock, pop, country and dance acts including indie-rock bands The Maccabees, Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats, The Vaccines and The Cribs.
Also playing the hallowed Truck Stage were Bobby Gillespie’s dance-rock band Primal Scream, fans’ favourite Kaiser Chiefs and The K’s. Among the best-known bands were iconic rabble-rousing rockers The Libertines who delighted the Sunday night crowd with a punchy, poetic set of familiar tunes – bandmates Carl Barât and Peter Doherty bonding over their songs having healed their much-publicised supposed rift.
Truck Festival, Steventon, 2026. Picture by Tim Hughes
The best-loved section of the festival for lovers of the Oxford music scene was the so-called Veterans and Virgins stage, which featured bands and artists who had played previous Truck Festivals along with new talent making their debut.
The stage is curated by brothers Robin and Joe Bennett of the band The Dreaming Spires, who set up the festival in 1998 as a birthday celebration for Robin – now a Green councillor on South Oxfordshire District Council.
While the brothers no longer run the whole festival, they continue to attract international and local artists to their popular stage as well as performing.
Robin, who launched his own solo act at the festival on the Sunday, said: “It has been a really good one this year. The sun has helped and everyone seems happy. We have had some great music.”
Truck Festival, Steventon, 2026. Picture by Tim Hughes
Robin was joined by charismatic Guatemalan/ Los Angeles rocker ‘Y’ on drums, guitar and vocals. He said: “It was the best one yet. It’s a great festival. You find new friends and always meet old friends – it’s like that first sip of wine. It’s Truck-tacular!”
Festival organisers said: “It’s hard to think of a Truck Festival weekend that has left us so delighted and full of joy than this one. From the moment gates opened on the Thursday, that atmosphere which makes Truck so special has shone bright and has made this year one that’s going to sit as the biggest and best Truck in festival history.
“Looking out across the festival site under stunning summer skies, we couldn’t help but feel emotional and grateful for the love and support that Truckers have showed us this year.”
A highlight was a surprise appearance by Supergrass star Gaz Coombes, from Wheatley, who joined the Oxford Symphony Orchestra as a special guest.
Fellow artist Nick Fowler, who lives near Wantage, also joined the orchestra – as well as making a number of other appearances on guitar throughout the weekend.
He said: “I have been going to Truck since 2003 and this was the best one yet. Having Gaz Coombes join the Oxford Symphony Orchestra was unbelievable – and the audience reaction was amazing. What a moment!”
Hill Farm’s Richard Binning was among those helping to feed punters at the Feel Good Food Hall, in which volunteers from charities and local good causes served everything from corn on the cob and steak sandwiches to Thai curry and macaroni cheese – with proceeds going to their respective organisations.
Truck Festival, Steventon, 2026. Picture by Tim Hughes
Richard follows in the footsteps of his farmer father, Alan, who, for many years, manned the grill with Didcot Rotary Club members, serving bacon butties, burgers and chips.
Richard joined volunteers dishing up steak sandwiches. He said: “This has been a great year. The weather makes a difference and the atmosphere has been fantastic.
“Having volunteers raising funds for good causes is what makes Truck Festival so unique. There is nothing else like it.”
Oxford News
Banbury development in final stages with 95 per cent sold
David Wilson Homes’ The Pavilions, located on Bowlers Close, is now over 95 per cent sold, with just seven homes remaining.
The development offers three and four-bedroom properties designed to suit first-time buyers and growing families.
Helen Lewis, managing director at David Wilson Homes Mercia, said: “We are delighted to announce that we are over 95 per cent sold at The Pavilions and it’s the final opportunity to secure a new home in the community.”
Launched in September 2021, The Pavilions will provide a total of 148 new homes.
The project also includes more than 23 acres of green space, 49 bird and bat boxes, 325 new trees, a wetland meadow, and community allotments.
Ms Lewis added: “We’ve enjoyed great success at the development and it’s been fantastic to see the community take shape.
“We encourage anyone interested in securing a place at The Pavilions to visit our marketing suite to learn more about the properties available.”
More than £750,000 was pledged to support the local area through S106 agreements, including £300,000 for schools and early year education, £186,869 for onsite outdoor sports facilities, and a £34,230 bus infrastructure contribution.
The developer has supported the wider Banbury community through event sponsorships and donations to organisations such as Banbury Men’s Shed and The Let’s Play Project.
All remaining homes are ready to move into, with prices starting from £390,000.
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