The New Year Honours list includes a number of notable figures from the arts, including the musician Brian May of Queen and the artist Grayson Perry.
Among the actors honored are Stephen Graham and David Harewood, who were both given OBEs.
Mary Quant, a trailblazing fashion designer from the 1960s, is promoted to Companion of Honour.
The list also includes comedian Frank Skinner, TV host Anne Diamond, and Rachel Riley from Countdown.
Months after his band assisted in kicking off the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee concert in front of Buckingham Palace, Brian May is made Sir Brian.
After more than 50 years in one of the biggest rock bands in Britain, he receives compensation for his contributions to music and philanthropy.
Grayson Perry, also known as his alter persona Claire, gained notoriety after winning the Turner Prize in 2003. He is known for his tapestries and pottery pieces that reflect his perspective on British culture.
His recognition for his contributions to the arts comes after Grayson’s Art Club, a popular Channel 4 program that gathered artwork from the general population for inclusion in shows across the UK during the pandemic, won an award.
Both John Akomfrah, a renowned artist known for his video works that address post-colonialism and migration, and Roly Keating, the current chief executive of the British Library and the previous controller of BBC Two, are made knights.
Dame Mary Quant joins the elite Order of the Companions of Honor, which is generally recognized as having popularized the tiny skirt. It only has 65 members at any given moment and is only open to those who have significantly contributed to the fields of the arts, sciences, medicine, or governance.
There are CBEs for theatrical producer Sonia Friedman, who has produced plays like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Jerusalem, as well as Oscar-nominated film and television composer George Fenton, whose soundtracks range from Gandhi to Sir David Attenborough’s Planet Earth.
For his contributions to drama, Stephen Graham, famed for TV shows like Help, Time, and Line of Duty, is awarded the OBE.
David Harewood receives the same honor for his contributions to charity and theater. He has appeared in the documentaries Will Britain Ever Have A Black Prime Minister?, Homeland, Supergirl, and others. and Me And My Psychosis.
Popular broadcaster Anne Diamond also received an OBE for her contributions to charity and public health. Since the 1991 passing of her own infant son, she has advocated for a decrease in cot deaths.
YolanDa Brown, a jazz saxophonist, and OBE recipient has held prominent positions in the music business and music education as well as presenting TV programs like YolanDa’s Band Jam on CBeebies.
Additionally, comic book artist David Sutherland, who created characters for The Beano such as Dennis the Menace and the Bash Street Kids, is also given the OBE.
MBEs are given to Horrid Henry author Francesca Simon, experienced comic and presenter Frank Skinner, and Cleo Sylvestre, the first black performer to play a major part at London’s National Theatre.
Rachel Riley, co-host of Countdown, is named MBE for contributions to Holocaust education. She is renowned for speaking out against anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, and for two libel actions resulting from that controversy, which she won this year.
The same award goes to investigative reporter Catherine Belton. Russian oligarchs and businesses filed five lawsuits against her in 2020 over her book Putin’s People.
Along with playwright Rachel De-Lahay, singer Janet Kay, best known for the 1979 Lovers’ Rock single Silly Games, is also given an MBE.
DJ Spoony, a producer, and radio host receive the British Empire Medal for his charitable music-related contributions during COVID-19.
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