Actor Idris Elba, ice legends Torvill and Dean among hundreds recognised in UK honours
New Year UK honours are awarded for contributions in areas such as government, academia, the arts and sports
Actor Idris Elba and ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean were among the hundreds named in British King Charles’ New Year honours list published on Monday.
The full list includes more than 1,157 people in politics, sport, the arts or community service to be awarded titles from Member, Commander or Officer of the Order of the British Empire to the highest honours of knighthoods and damehoods.
Elba, who is known for his roles in the television series Luther and The Wire, was awarded a knighthood for his anti-knife-crime campaigning with young people.
“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,” said Elba, who becomes a sir.
Torvill and Dean, whose 1984 Olympic Bolero routine earned perfect scores and became a defining moment in British sport, were both honoured - she as a dame and he as a knight.
And following from the England women’s soccer team’s back-to-back Euro title success this year, coach Sarina Wiegman - a Dutch national - was awarded an honorary damehood. Several of the Lionesses were also recognised in the honours list.