These VIPs are well known to all of us.
But were you there on the day they went back to the classroom, years after they became famous.
The Echo was and we can share these 7 photos from our archives.
1. Back to class
They all returned to school on Wearside years after they became famous.
2. Dave Stewart
Dave Stewart returned to his roots in 1994.
The one-time Bede School student, top producer and former Eurythmic took a musical masterclass at Sunderland University, where in 1993 he received an honorary fellowship.
3. Melanie Hill
Melanie Hill went back to Monkwearmouth School in 2003.
She met the cast of the school's production of The Crucible.
4. Kate Adie
Kate was a welcome guest when she opened the Langham Tower extension to Sunderland High School, where she was a former pupil
The BBC Chief News Correspondent performed the honour in 2006.