The New Years Honours List is about to be revealed – with famous faces receiving gongs this year including Spice Girls star Mel B, who is to be be awarded an MBE in recognition of her services to domestic violence victims.
A Women’s Aid patron, Mel B has opened up about her own experience of abuse, and constantly campaigned for change.
Speaking to MailOnline, a source has revealed: “Despite her achievements in music and TV, she believes her campaigning is the most important thing she’s ever done”
For some, receiving a royal honour is the highlight of their career and a chance to be recognised for what they’ve achieved.
However, there are some famous faces who would rather steer clear of the award, choosing to turn down their New Year and birthday honours from the Queen.
From singers and actors to newsreaders and chefs, we’ve got the top celebs that turned down honours from the Queen.
Nigella Lawson
(Image: Getty Images North America)
Nigella Lawson is well known for her incredible culinary skills and sizzling hot cooking programmes.
The bombshell, 59, made the decision to turn down her offer of an OBE in 2001.
She explained: “I’m not saving lives and I’m not going anything other than something I absolutely love.”
Nigella’s decision to turn down the honour came despite the fact she is the daughter of a life peer.
French and Saunders
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders are beloved by many for their hilarious comedy sketches.
The hilarious comedy duo turned down OBEs “for services to comedy drama” in 2001.
They later explained the reason for rejecting the awards.
Jennifer told Source magazine: “If I felt I deserved a Damehood I’d accept it.
“At the time, we felt that we were being paid very well to have a lot of fun. It didn’t seem right somehow.
“We didn’t deserve a pat on the back. It felt a bit fake to stand alongside people who devoted their lives to truly worthy causes.”
Skepta
Tottenham-born rapper Skepta – real name Joseph Junior Adenuga – turned down an MBE for the 2017 New Year’s Honours.
The 39-year-old star revealed the bombshell during his song Hypocrisy. In the second verse he raps: “Just came back from the Ivors/ And look at what we collected/ The MBE got rejected/I’m not trying to be accepted.”
Skepta is a global sensation and won the Mercury Prize for his fourth album Konnichiwa. The album was also listed as one of the best albums of 2016 by many publications, including NME, the Guardian and Apple Music.
Although Skepta turned down the MBE, his manager Grace Ladoja, accepted and received an MBE in 2018.
David Bowie
(Image: Getty Images)
The iconic late musician turned down joining he list of musical knights including Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John.
He said: “I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that. I seriously don’t know what it’s for. It’s not what I spent my life working for.”
David sadly died two days after his 69th birthday on January 10, 2016.
George The Poet
Spoken word artist George the Poet turned down an MBE in 2019, when he branded the British Empire as “pure evil” as he detailed their treatment of his ancestral homeland, Uganda.
George The Poet, real name George Mpanga, revealed on his podcast that he was planning on accepting the MBE, but when he felt a “burning sensation” in his chest, he had to reevaluate his decision.
Speaking on the podcast he said: “I see myself as student, admirer and friend of Britain, however the colonial trauma inflicted on the children of Africa, entrenched across our geo-political and macro-economic realities, prevents me from accepting the title Member of the British Empire.”
Stephen Hawking
(Image: Getty Images)
Professor Hawking revealed in 2008 that he was offered a knighthood in the late 1990s.
His decision to decline the offer was said to have been down to the government’s dealing with science funding and cuts.
The late physicist had already been appointed a CBE after being included in the 1982 New Year Honours.
The scientist died at the age of 76 on March 14, 2018.
John Cleese
(Image: BBC)
The comedy actor was offered a CBE in 1996, but allegedly sad they were “silly”.
He was also offered a peerage by Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown in 1999.
The Monty Python star declined because he felt staying in England during the winter months to fulfil his role as a working peer was “too much of a price to pay”.
Danny Boyle
Back in 2013, Danny Boyle turned down a knighthood for his work on London’s £27million Olympic opening ceremony.
The film director and producer is best known for his work on films including Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, and Slumdog Millionaire – among many others.
Speaking to the Radio Times back when he turned down the coveted title, he said: “It’s just not me. I also thought it was wrong, actually.
“You can make these speeches about ‘this is everybody’s work, blah blah blah’ and you’ve got to mean it, and I did mean it, and it is true, and it’s the only way you can carry on something like that: through the efforts of all the people.”
He concluded: ” I don’t know whether I’ll ever get invited back to the Palace.”
George Harrison
(Image: Getty Images)
The former Beatles star reportedly turned down an OBE in 2000, after his bandmate Paul McCartney was given a knighthood.
It was speculated that he refused the award due to McCartney getting a knighthood three years before.
Friend Roy Connolly told the Independent: “Whoever it was who decided to offer him the OBE and not the knighthood was extraordinarily insensitive.”
Jon Snow
(Image: Redferns via Getty Images)
Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow declined an OBE in 2000.
The newsreader then proceeded to make a documentary in 2002 called Secrets of the Honours System.
He remains critical of the use of the term “Empire” in the honours system.
He said: “I tried to find out why I’d been given it and was unable to get a clear answer or, indeed, to find out who had proposed me.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
