Former England manager Gareth Southgate is to be knighted in the New Year Honours as other personalities from sport, politics and entertainment are recognised
Gareth Southgate resigns as England manager
Actor Stephen Fry, former England manager Gareth Southgate and London mayor Sadiq Khan have been knighted in the New Year Honours.
Sir Stephen, star of Blackadder and former host of QI, was recognised for services to mental health awareness, the environment and to charity. The 67-year-old said that he felt “startled and enchanted” after receiving the letter informing him of the knighthood and that it was “wonderful” to see the charities get recognition.
He added: “When you are recognised it does make you feel a bit ‘crikey’, but I think the most emotional thing is that when I think of my childhood, and my dreadful unhappiness and misery and stupidity, and everything that led to so many failures as a child.
“And for my parents, really, what a disaster. I mean every time the phone rang, they thought, ‘Oh, God, what has Stephen done now’. It was a sort of joke in the family.”
Former Three Lions boss Sir Gareth 54, is knighted for services to association football, after leading the Three Lions to the finals of Euro 2020 and 2024, and the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup.
He declined to comment on the honour.
Honours have also gone to a host of Team GB athletes following their stunning performance in the Paris Olympics.
Runner Keely Hodgkinson, who was named the 2024 BBC Sports Personality of the Year, received an MBE and mountain biker Tom Pidcock was awarded an OBE.
Both bagged gold medals for Team GB in the summer games.
There are also honours for those who campaigned on behalf of wrongfully convicted sub-postmasters following the Horizon IT scandal.
Horizon IT scandal victims Lee Castleton, Jo Hamilton, Christopher Head and Seema Misra are made OBEs for services to justice.
Mr Castleton, from Bridlington, East Yorkshire, said it was “wonderful” to be recognised alongside his fellow campaigners.
He said: “Sometimes you have to step forward and shout as loud as you can because some of our group aren’t able to do that.”
Creator of The Tracy Beaker series, Jacqueline Wilson, has been made a Dame Grand Cross (GBE) for services to literature.
Actress Carey Mulligan and television presenter Alan Titchmarsh became Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
The top award goes to Nobel Prize-winning novelist Sir Kazuo Ishiguro, who was made a Companion of Honour for services to literature.
Actor Eddie Marsan received an OBE and presenter Myleene Klass has been awarded an MBE.
Former F1 driver and broadcaster Martin Brundle is made an OBE and former Scotland and Liverpool footballer Alan Hansen has been made an MBE.
Among the politicians to be honoured include Labour MP Emily Thornberry, who has been made a Dame.
Both London mayor Sadiq Khan and former West Mids mayor Andy Street have been knighted.
Sir Sadiq, the son of a bus driver in the capital, said he was “truly humbled” to receive the honour.
Other actors to be honoured include Inspector Morse’s Kevin Whately (OE), Doctor Who actor Tom Baker (MBE), Desmond’s star Carmen Munroe (Dame) and Happy Valley actress Sarah Lancashire (CBE).
Former Corrie star Anne Reid (CBE) and Shameless actress Anne-Marie Duff (OBE) were also recognised.
DJ Steve Lamacq expressed his “incredible shock” to be given an MBE.
Broadcaster Loyd Grossman said he is “utterly thrilled” and “as close to speechless” as he can get after finding out he has been knighted.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.