Wicked star Cynthia Erivo has been given the Order of the British Empire (OBE). The British singer and actress is among 1,157 people in politics, sport, the arts or community service named in King Charles's New Year honours list – an annual tradition that recognises people for their contributions to the UK.
The honorees were awarded titles ranging from Member, Commander or Officer of the Order of the British Empire to the highest honours of knighthoods and damehoods. They will formally receive their titles from King Charles or a member of the British royal family at an investiture ceremony later in the year.
Actor Idris Elba, who is known for his roles in the television series Luther and The Wire, was knighted 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,” Elba said.
Meanwhile, actor Warwick Davis, who has appeared in the Star Wars, Harry Potter and Willow franchises, and founded the dwarfism charity Little People UK, was also awarded an OBE.
Actor and writer Meera Syal, whose credits include Goodness Gracious Me, The Kumars at No 42 and the novel Anita and Me, was made a dame.
Veteran ice dancers Jayne Torvill, 68, and Christopher Dean, 67, were made dame and knight respectively for services to their sport and to voluntary service. The pair, whose perfect scores won them gold at the 1984 Winter Olympics, were awarded OBEs in 2000.
“It was like a tidal wave hit me,” Dean told The Independent newspaper. “It’s such an amazing award to receive this, an honour, and we’re really humbled by it.
“We’ve been together for 50 years and I think in that time we’ve created this body of work and skated and performed and entertained over all that time, and we’ve worked with a lot of charities as well with our skating."
Other honorees include England women's soccer team's coach Sarina Wiegman, a Dutch national, who was awarded an honorary damehood. Simon Roberts, the chief executive of supermarket chain Sainsbury's, was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
"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," UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
The New Year honours, which have been awarded since at least 1890, aim to recognise not only well-known figures, but people who have contributed to national life through often unsung work over many years.
Agencies contributed to this report
