Sarina WiegmanThe King’s New Year Honours list came out on 29th December 2025. And honestly, it’s a cracker this year.
The list’s packed with familiar faces alongside hundreds of people you’ve never heard of but who’ve been doing brilliant things for decades without making a fuss about it. That’s how it should be, really.
The Big Names Getting Knighted
Idris Elba’s been knighted. Sir Idris Elba now. The 53-year-old isn’t getting it for playing Luther, though. It’s for his Elba Hope Foundation, which helps young people through community empowerment and education. He said he’s accepting it on behalf of the kids the foundation supports. Wants to help them find alternatives to violence. Good on him.
Torvill and Dean are finally getting their due. Jayne Torvill became a dame, and Christopher Dean became a Knight. They quit Dancing on Ice earlier this year. The duo won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics. People have been wondering why they hadn’t been honoured ages ago. Christopher said they never imagined it would go down this way. Jayne says it’s done everything well.
Roy Clarke’s getting a knighthood, too. He’s 95. Created Last of the Summer Wine, Open All Hours, Keeping Up Appearances and is a proper British comedy royalty.
The Women Who Dominated Sport
Women’s sport absolutely runs this list. About time too.
CBE for Leah Williamson. She’s 28 and led the Lionesses to victory at the Euros in July against Spain. Also plays for Arsenal.
From that squad, Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone are all receiving MBEs. Ella was part of the team that won both the 2022 and 2025 Euros. And these women have redefined the game.
Their manager, Sarina Wiegman, is getting an honorary damehood. She is Dutch but has been with England since 2021. Two Euro victories under her belt now.
In September, the Red Roses rugby team secured victory in the Women’s Rugby World Cup. Marlie Packer and Zoe Aldcroft will also become OBEs. Ellie Kildunne, Sadia Kabeya and Megan Jones all received MBEs after the win over Canada.
Paula Radcliffe’s getting an OBE. Three-time London Marathon winner. Had held the women’s marathon world record for 16 years. She’s 52 now.
The Showbiz Lot
Cynthia Erivo received an MBE for services to music and drama. The 38-year-old recently starred in Wicked and Wicked: For Good as Elphaba. Those films have been very popular for the last two years.
Warwick Davis got an OBE. Star Wars and Harry Potter star, 55, had already received BAFTA’s highest honour earlier in 2025. When he came to accept that, he said it was the best thing that had ever happened to him. And he’s been in Star Wars.
Richard Osman is becoming an OBE. Not just the Pointless bloke anymore. His Thursday Murder Club books became massive. The first one got turned into a Netflix film with Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan earlier this year.
Gabby Logan’s getting an OBE. She took over from Gary Lineker on Match of the Day in August. Does the Olympics and women’s football coverage for BBC Sport?
Meera Syal’s becoming a dame. The 64-year-old created Goodness Gracious Me. Was in The Kumars at No. 42. Recently been in Roar and The Revenge Club.
Matt Lucas got an MBE. Wrote Little Britain with David Walliams. Before that, he was George Dawes in Shooting Stars.
Paul Elliott, one half of the Chuckle Brothers, is to be made an MBE. The 73-year-old formed the comedy duo with his late brother Barry in 1967. ChuckleVision was on the air from 1987 to 2009.
An MBE for Phil Spencer from Location, Location, Location. Volunteers for the homeless charity St Mungo’s. Said it feels overwhelming.
Clive Tyldesley is becoming an OBE. The 71-year-old football commentator is heard saying “Solskjaer has won it” when Manchester United won the Champions League in 1999.
What It Means
There are more than 1,100 people on this list. Most aren’t celebrities. They’re teachers, nurses, volunteers. People who’ve been quietly doing brilliant things for years.
What strikes me most is how much women’s sport features. It wouldn’t have happened ten years ago. The Lionesses and Red Roses have shifted something. This honours list shows it.
Some people think the whole thing’s outdated. Others reckon it’s a nice way to say thanks. Either way, seeing Torvill and Dean finally get their knighthoods feels right.
