“The odds may have slipped for the star of Luther and The Wire to become 007 but he has been recognised for his work campaigning against knife crime.”, — write: www.dailymail.co.uk
The odds may have slipped for the star of Luther and The Wire to become 007 but he has been recognised for his work campaigning against knife crime.
Sir Idris, 53, is among a string of top celebrities to receive gongs in the New Year’s Honours while ice dancers and the Lionesses lead stars of the sporting world.
The actor, whose Elba Hope Foundation supports youth advocacy, said he was accepting the honour on behalf of the ‘many young people’ at his charity who inspire his work.
Sir Idris said: ‘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.’
Jayne Torvill, 68, and Christopher Dean, 67, are made a Dame and a Knight for services to ice skating and to voluntary service.
The pair took home Olympic gold at the 1984 Winter Games before gaining household fame appearing on Dancing on Ice.
Sir Christopher, who faced an agonising wait as his letter came three days after that of his skating partner, said: ‘It’s such an amazing award to receive this and we’re really humbled by it.’
Dame Jayne said the timing felt ‘perfect’ as the pair completed their final ever tour earlier this year.
A year after former Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate was knighted, the Lionesses Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman, 56, was awarded with an honorary damehood.
Her squad featured heavily following their second Euros win in the summer with captain Leah Williamson, 28, made a CBE and teammates Alex Greenwood, 32, Keira Walsh, 28, Georgia Stanway, 26, and Ella Toone, also 26, made MBES.
Wiegman, who cannot receive a substantive damehood as she is not British, 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.’
Despite scoring the winning penalty in the final against Spain in Switzerland, Chloe Kelly, 27, missed out on a gong.
But a source said to ‘keep an eye out’ for future lists as there has been a ‘move away’ from awarding automatic honours for whole teams ‘in one go’.
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Others recognised include comedian Matt Lucas, 51, who is made an OBE 10 years after his controversial Little Britain partner David Walliams received the same title.
Harvey Weinstein’s former PA Zelda Perkins is awarded a CBE for services to social justice after her campaign against NDAs.
Singer Ellie Goulding is made an MBE as she turns 39 on Tuesday while Star Wars and Harry Potter actor Warwick Davis, 55, is made an OBE for services to drama.
It comes after Davis was given Bafta’s highest honour in February for the advocacy work he has done since his wife Samantha died of sepsis due to complications from surgery.
Location, Location, Location star Phil Spencer, 56, has been made an OBE. He said: ‘I’m hugely honoured and humbled. I mean, it’s a hell of a thing.’
Former Coronation Street star Sally Lindsay, 52, best known for playing the long-suffering Rovers Return landlady Shelley Unwin, is made an MBE.
Writer Roy Clarke, creator of sitcoms Last Of The Summer Wine, Open All Hours and Keeping Up Appearances, becomes a knight.
Paul Elliott, 78, one half of the Chuckle Brothers, is made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to charity.
He has been a prominent supporter and ambassador for Marie Curie since his brother Barry died of bone cancer aged 73 in 2018.
Paul said: ‘A lad from a council estate in Rotherham, and after all these years, getting an MBE is just such an honour. I’m very much a royalist.’
Goodness Gracious Me actress Meera Syal, 64, becomes a Dame and broadcaster Gabby Logan, 52, and author Richard Osman are made OBEs, while celebrity chef Marcus Wareing, 55, is made MBE.
Comedian and musician Bill Bailey, 60, and Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, 38, are made MBEs while three-time London marathon winner Paula Radcliffe, 52, is made an OBE.
England Women’s Rugby World Cup winning coach John Mitchell, 61, is made OBE alongside players Marlie Packer, 36, and Zoe Aldcroft, 29. Teammates Ellie Kildunne, 26, Sadia Kabeya, 23, and Megan Jones, 29, are made MBEs
This year half of all recipients at CBE level were women and 67 per cent across the board were from outside of London and the South East with 10 per cent from minority ethnic backgrounds.
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.’