Idris Elba, ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, as well as England’s victorious women’s football and rugby teams, are among 1,157 people recognised in the New Year Honours list.
Sir Idris, 53, who is known for his roles in The Wire and Luther, is knighted for services to young people, having founded the Elba Hope Foundation.
He said: “I receive this honour on behalf of the many young people whose talent, ambition and resilience has driven the work of the Elba Hope Foundation.
“I hope we can do more to draw attention to the importance of sustained, practical support for young people and to the responsibility we all share to help them find an alternative to violence.”
Torvill and Dean say honour is ‘wonderful and humbling’
Dame Jayne and Sir Christopher, who took home the Olympic gold at the 1984 Winter Games and saw success at the World, European and British Champions, are made a Dame and Sir for services to ice skating and to voluntary service. They said the honour is “wonderful and humbling at the same time”.
They are joined by Paul Elliott, one half of the Chuckle Brothers, who is made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and Matt Lucas, half of the Little Britain comedy duo with David Walliams, who becomes an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Lionesses and Red Roses
The Lionesses feature heavily on the list after their Euros win in the summer. Captain Leah Williamson is made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), while Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone become MBEs.
The team’s Dutch manager, Sarina Wiegman, who has won the Euros twice with England and once with the Netherlands, is awarded an honorary damehood, the Cabinet Office said.
Wiegman said: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude for this honour. When I first arrived in England, I could never have imagined the respect and warmth I’ve experienced from the English people. I deeply thank the fans for their support.”
England manager Sarina Wiegman. Pic: PA
Members of England Women’s Rugby World Cup winning squad are also featured, with Marlie Packer and Zoe Aldcroft becoming OBEs, along with coach John Mitchell. Their teammates Ellie Kildunne, Sadia Kabeya and Megan Jones are made MBEs after the Red Roses defeated Canada in the final in September.
Three-time London Marathon winner Paula Radcliffe, who held the women’s marathon record for 16 years, is made an OBE.
Paula Radcliffe. Pic: PA
‘Best thing that’s ever happened to me – and I’ve been in Star Wars’
Also made OBEs are presenter and author Richard Osman, actor Warwick Davis and broadcaster Gabby Logan. The Kumars At No 42 actress Meera Syal, 64, becomes a Dame.
Richard Osman. Pic: PA
Osman, 55, author of The Thursday Murder Club book series, said he was “absolutely thrilled” with the honour, while Davis, also 55, said: “This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I’ve been in Star Wars.”
Warwick Davis. Pic: PA
Wicked star Cynthia Erivo is made an MBE for services to music and drama, while football commentator Clive Tyldesley becomes an OBE for services to sports broadcasting and to charity.
Writer Roy Clarke, who created the sitcoms Last Of The Summer Wine, Open All Hours and Keeping Up Appearances, becomes a knight.
Cynthia Erivo. Pic: PA
Oldest Horizon IT scandal victim and D-Day veteran honoured
A woman thought to be the oldest victim of the Horizon IT scandal, 92-year-old Betty Brown, has said it was a “shocker” to have been made an OBE for seeking justice for subpostmasters.
D-Day veteran Mervyn Kersh, 101, said it was a “wonderful thing” to be awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to Holocaust remembrance and education.
Mervyn Kersh. Pic: PA
The oldest person on the list is 102-year-old John Hearn, one of four centenarians included, who receives a BEM for services to Judo and to the community in northeast England.
The youngest recipient is 20-year-old Olympic gold medal-winning sports climber Toby Roberts, from Elstead in Surrey, who becomes an MBE.
‘The very best of Britain’
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “This year’s Honours list celebrates the very best of Britain – people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives.
“Their quiet dedication speaks to the decent, compassionate country we are proud to be. On behalf of the whole nation, thank you – and congratulations to everyone recognised today.”
