King’s first birthday honours revealed as stars including Davina McCall, Ian Wright and Vicky McClure are given gongs


TELLY favourite Davina McCall and Line of Duty star Vicky McClure have been rewarded for their campaigning in King Charles’ first birthday ­honours list.

Davina, 55, is a champion for women’s health while Bafta-winning Vicky, 40, has crusaded against dementia following her gran’s diagnosis with the disease.

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TV host Davina McCall has been given a MBE in the first King’s first Birthday Honours listCredit: Getty
Line Of Duty actress Vicky McClure has also been granted a MBE

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Line Of Duty actress Vicky McClure has also been granted a MBECredit: Getty

Both were made MBEs along with broadcaster Ken Bruce, 72, former England Lioness Eniola Aluko, 36, and Leicester City and ex-Manchester United defender Jonny Evans, 35.

Former Big Brother presenter Davina said: “I can’t believe it.

“It’s a great honour and it really means a great deal.”

Radio veteran and PopMaster creator Bruce called the honour “a great surprise and privilege”.

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Top awards went to the Vogue editor-in-chief Dame Anna Wintour, 73, and Booker prize winner Ian McEwan, 74, who were made Companions of Honour alongside Covid testing czar, Professor Sir John Bell, 70.

Enduring Love writer McEwan joked: “I guess it amounts to a really good review.”

He added: “News of the honour, in a letter from the Cabinet Office, was a complete surprise and, naturally, I was delighted.

“The task in hand, the novel one is trying to create, is always there, a constant and intimate companion.”

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has spoken out agains racism and he has been given an OBE

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Arsenal legend Ian Wright has spoken out agains racism and he has been given an OBECredit: Getty
Popular radio host Ken Bruce, 72, has been given a MBE in the King's Honours List

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Popular radio host Ken Bruce, 72, has been given a MBE in the King’s Honours ListCredit: PA
Former England women's rugby captain Sarah Hunter has also received a CBE

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Former England women’s rugby captain Sarah Hunter has also received a CBECredit: PA

The list of 1,171 recipients also included 59-year-old footballer-turned-pundit, Ian Wright, who was made an OBE for services to football and charity.

Former Rangers footballer and manager John Greig, 80, was made a CBE along with former England rugby captain Sarah Hunter, 37, for services to Rugby Union.

Actor Kenneth Cranham, 78, is a CBE for services to drama.

Poet and Booker Prize-winner Ben Okri, 64, was made a Knight Bachelor for services to literature.

Ian McEwan says he is delighted to be named a Companion of Honour

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Ian McEwan says he is delighted to be named a Companion of HonourCredit: PA
Ken Okri  has been made a Knight Bachelor for services to literature

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Ken Okri has been made a Knight Bachelor for services to literatureCredit: PA

Also made Knight Bachelors were Rupert Gavin, the 68-year-old chairman of Historic Royal Palaces, and Sky’s executive chairman ­Jeremy Darroch, 60.

William Shawcross, the Independent Reviewer of anti-terror programme Prevent, is also knighted.

The 77-year-old, a former chair of the Charity Commission, called out the Prevent scheme for ignoring obvious facts about Islamist terrorism — saying too much of the focus went on mental illness and neo-Nazis instead.

Serving MI6 Chief Sir Richard Moore and the late literary giant Martin Amis, who died last month, were also knighted.

Insiders said the King wanted to keep with the spirit of the Coronation and celebrate people who had brought the country together, helped out, and served their communities.

The oldest recipient was 106-year-old Joan Willett, given a British Empire Medal for fundraising for the British Heart Foundation.

The youngest was BEM recipient Junior Jay Froot, 18, for his work on anti-bullying campaigning.

Armed forces heroes were rewarded for their incredible efforts, including a BEM for one of the longest-ever serving Poppy ­Appeal collectors.

Margaret Bracey, who sold her first poppy for a penny in 1945 at the age of 12, continues to volunteer for the Royal British Legion eight decades later.

Retired Army Major Sally Orange was given an MBE for her work challenging stigma in mental health — and running 70 marathons for various military charities.

Major General Nicholas John Caplin got a CBE for his tireless work to help displaced Ukranians.

In the world of science, Dr Sheila Reith — who developed the world’s first insulin pen for free — was made a CBE.

Half of this year’s list are women, and one in ten is from an ethnic minority background.

At least one in five say they come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Deputy PM Oliver Dowden said: “This year’s honours list is a testament to ordinary people who have demonstrated extraordinary community spirit, and I pay tribute to all those who have been recognised today.

“Our honours system has long been a way of recognising people who make an incredible contribution to life in Britain and beyond.”

Actor Kenneth Cranham has been awarded a CBE for services to drama

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Actor Kenneth Cranham has been awarded a CBE for services to dramaCredit: PA

New OBE Ian Wright moved from Crystal Palace to Arsenal in 1991, and became the Gunners’ top scorer for six seasons in a row.

Since retiring in 2000, Wright has become a popular pundit on Match of the Day, and written ­columns for The Sun.

He has spoken powerfully about racism in football and backed calls for girls to get better access to the sport at school.

Former England footballer Eniola Aluko has been awarded with a MBE

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Former England footballer Eniola Aluko has been awarded with a MBECredit: PA

New MBE Eniola Aluko won 102 caps for the Lionesses, having started out at Birmingham in 2001 and playing for Chelsea and Juventus.

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She was in the team which reached the final of the 2009 Euros, and was a key component of Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics.

Since retiring she has worked in director roles at Aston Villa and Angel City in the American National Women’s Soccer League, as well as a television pundit.

Praise for the heroes hit by tragedy

EVERYDAY heroes have been rewarded by the King in his birthday honours for their work raising millions of pounds for charity.

Susie Richards got an MBE for her charity work supporting families that have lost loved ones in tragic circumstances.

So far she has raised more than £500,000.

West Midlands-based Susie said: “I was overwhelmed.”

Her charity is called Smile for Joel, after losing her son Joel, 19, dad and brother in the Tunisia terror attacks in 2017 which left 38 dead.

She revealed she is already in touch with the families of Nottingham victims Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber to offer help.

Susie said: “My heart goes out to the families. They were the same age as Joel.

“I wish my dad, brother and Joel were here to see this, they’d be so proud. This is for them.”

There was also an MBE for Alice Good, whose charity Sunflower Sisters helps Ukrainian women refugees rebuild their lives in the UK.

She begged ministers for help because many are returning to Ukraine because there isn’t enough housing.

Philip Bigley, brother of hostage Ken Bigley who was murdered in Iraq in 2004, was made an OBE for his work supporting families affected by kidnappings overseas.

Philip said he was “shocked and honoured.”

Dame Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, has been named a Companion of Honour

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Dame Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, has been named a Companion of HonourCredit: PA
Martin Amis is being honoured posthumously after dying of cancer a month ago

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Martin Amis is being honoured posthumously after dying of cancer a month agoCredit: PA





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