Idris Elba Knighted, Lionesses Honoured in New Year Honours List
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The New Year Honours list recognizes exceptional achievement and service across a wide range of fields, with actor Idris Elba becoming Sir Idris and the victorious Lionesses football team receiving meaningful accolades. A total of 1,157 individuals are recognized in this year’s list, celebrating contributions to sport, entertainment, politics, and community service.
Sporting Triumphs Take Centre stage
The Lionesses’ historic win at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 dominates the sporting recognition.Head coach Sarina Wiegman is appointed an honorary dame, while captain Leah Williamson receives a CBE. Several key players also receive recognition: Ella Toone, Lucy Bronze, and Beth Mead are all appointed OBEs. Rugby player Maro Itoje also becomes an OBE, and cyclist Laura Kenny receives a damehood. Triathlete Georgia Taylor-Brown and swimmer Duncan Scott** receive OBEs. Ellie Kildunne receive MBEs. Figure skating legends Jayne torvill and Christopher Dean, celebrated for their 1984 Olympic gold medal and enduring legacy, are awarded a damehood and knighthood respectively. Olympic runner Paula Radcliffe also becomes an OBE, and former Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is appointed a CBE for his charitable work.
Entertainment Industry Honoured
The entertainment world also sees significant recognition. Actor and writer Meera Syal is made a dame for her contributions to drama, literature, and charity, notably her work on Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No. 42. Warwick Davis, known for his roles in Star Wars and Harry Potter, receives an OBE, as does sports broadcaster Gabby Logan. Mezzo-soprano Alice Coote is conferred a CBE.
Author and television host Richard Osman, comedian Matt Lucas, and Wicked star Cynthia Erivo are all appointed OBEs.Ellie Goulding and Cynthia Erivo both receive MBEs, with Goulding also recognized for her work as an environmental ambassador.Composer Max Richter, known for his film and television soundtracks, is also made a CBE.
Recognition for Public Service and Campaigning
The Honours list also shines a light on those dedicated to public service and campaigning. Betty Brown, a survivor of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, receives an OBE for her tireless efforts to expose wrongful prosecutions. mervyn Kersh, a veteran of World War II and a witness to the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, is awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his work in Holocaust remembrance and education. bobby seagull, a passionate advocate for public libraries, is appointed an MBE.
Sarah Anderson, founder of the mental health charity the Listening Place, receives a damehood for her work in suicide prevention. Former Labor minister Anneliese Dodds is made a dame,while former Labour MPs Jonathan Ashworth and Tristram Hunt also receive honours.
A Legacy of Service
The youngest recipient, 20-year-old Olympic gold medal-winning sports climber Toby Roberts, receives an MBE, while the oldest, 102-year-old John Hearn, is awarded a BEM for his services to judo. “I receive this honor on behalf of the many young people whose talent, ambition and resilience has driven the work of the Elba Hope Foundation,” Sir Idris said, reflecting the spirit of service that underpins the entire list. The New Year Honours represent a powerful acknowledgement of dedication, achievement, and the enduring impact of individuals across all walks of life.
