Acclaimed actor and campaigner Idris Elba has been officially knighted, leading a star-studded New Year Honours list that also celebrates ice dancing legends, Harry Potter stars, and England's triumphant Lionesses.
A Knighthood for Services to Young People
Idris Elba, 53, famed for his roles in The Wire and Luther, becomes Sir Idris for his services to young people. The honour recognises his tireless activism against knife crime and his work through the Elba Hope Foundation, which he founded to support community empowerment, education, and youth advocacy.
"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," Sir Idris said. He expressed hope that the recognition would draw more attention to the need for "sustained, practical support for young people" and the shared responsibility to help them find alternatives to violence.
His campaigning reached a peak in 2024 when he called for an immediate ban on machetes and zombie knives, meeting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to launch a new anti-knife crime coalition. He also explored the issue in depth for the BBC documentary Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis, meeting young offenders, bereaved families, and police.
His foundation also joined forces with The Prince's Trust in 2024 for the 'Creative Futures' project, offering free courses to help young people build skills for careers in the creative industries.
Sporting and Entertainment Icons Honoured
The honours list brings royal recognition to several other beloved figures. Olympic gold medal-winning ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who triumphed at the 1984 Winter Games, have been made a Dame and a Knight for services to ice skating and voluntary service.
"It's wonderful and humbling at the same time," the pair said, with Sir Christopher, 67, adding it was something they "never realised might happen." Dame Jayne, 68, noted the timing felt "perfect" after they danced on ice for the final time earlier this year.
Warwick Davis, the actor renowned for his roles in Star Wars and the Harry Potter series, receives an OBE for services to drama and charity. This follows his receipt of BAFTA's highest honour, the BAFTA Fellowship, in February. The 55-year-old dedicated that award to his late wife Samantha, with whom he co-founded the charity Little People UK in 2012.
Other entertainment figures honoured include comedian Matt Lucas (OBE), who thought the notification letter was a prank, Coronation Street actress Sally Lindsay, and Wicked star Cynthia Erivo (MBE).
Lionesses and Wider Recognition
England's victorious Euro 2022 football team features prominently. Captain Leah Williamson becomes a CBE, while teammates Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, and Ella Toone are all awarded MBEs.
The list also celebrates unsung heroes. A notable inclusion is Betty Brown, 92, believed to be the oldest victim of the Horizon IT scandal, who receives an OBE for seeking justice for subpostmasters. D-Day veteran Mervyn Kersh, 101, is awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to Holocaust remembrance.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised the recipients, stating: "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."
The Cabinet Office confirmed this year's list includes 1,157 recipients, with 67% living outside London and the South East. Half of all recipients at CBE level and above are women, marking the strongest representation since 2020.
