Torvill and Dean, Meera Syal, Ellie Goulding and the Lionesses are also among the big names recognised for their services and achievements in this year’s NY Honours list
Luther star Idris Elba has been made a knight in the New Years Honours list. The Hollywood actor leads the New Year Honours list alongside ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who are made dame and knight, and Goodness Gracious Me Star Meera Syal, who also becomes a dame.
England’s victorious women’s football and rugby teams are also recognised. Sir Idris, 53, known for his roles in The Wire and Luther, is knighted for services to young people, having founded the Elba Hope Foundation, which supports community empowerment, education, youth advocacy and sustainable development.
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.”
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 Championships, are made a Dame and Sir for services to ice skating and to voluntary service.
The pair, who later became the faces of celebrity competition show Dancing On Ice, said the honour is “wonderful and humbling at the same time”.
They join other stars who rose to fame in notable partnerships, such as 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 comedic Little Britain duo with David Walliams, who becomes an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
England’s Lionesses feature heavily on the list after their Euros win in the summer — with captain Leah Williamson made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone, who were all part of the side that beat Spain in the final in July, become MBEs.
And the team’s Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman, who has won the Euros twice with England, is awarded an honorary damehood. 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.”
Members of England Women’s Rugby World Cup winning squad are also strongly represented, with Marlie Packer and Zoe Aldcroft becoming OBEs, along with coach John Mitchell.
Teammates Ellie Kildunne, Sadia Kabeya, and Megan Jones are also made MBEs. Paula Radcliffe, a three-time London Marathon winner, is made an OBE.
Broadcaster Gabby Logan, actor Warwick Davis and presenter and author Richard Osman are made OBEs.
Former Corrie star Sally Lindsay is made an MBE, as are comedian Bill Bailey, Location Location Location host Phil Spencer and singer Ellie Goulding.
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, creator of sitcoms Last Of The Summer Wine, Open All Hours and Keeping Up Appearances, becomes a knight.
A woman thought to be the oldest victim of the Horizon IT scandal, 92-year-old Betty Brown, said it was a “shocker” to have been made an OBE for seeking justice for subpostmasters.
D-Day veteran Mervyn Kersh, 101, said it is a “wonderful thing” to be awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to Holocaust remembrance and education.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
