Arise tv's toughest detective: Luther star Idris Elba knighted by King Charles
Sir Idris used a grant from the Prince’s Trust – now the King’s Trust – to attend the National Youth Music Theatre aged 18
Actor Sir Idris Elba and ice skating champions Dame Jayne Torvill and Sir Christopher Dean are among those receiving honours at Windsor Castle.
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Some 68 people, including comedians Dame Meera Syal and Paul Elliott, one half of the double act Chuckle Brothers, have been honoured by the King.
Luther star Sir Idris was awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours for services to young people.
In 2022, the 53-year-old founded the Elba Hope Foundation, which supports community empowerment, education, youth advocacy and sustainable development.
Sir Idris used a grant from the Prince’s Trust – now the King’s Trust – to attend the National Youth Music Theatre aged 18.
It was announced last year that the actor will team up with the King to create a documentary marking 50 years since Charles founded the charity, due to air on Netflix this autumn.
Read More: King declines Sir Idris Elba’s acting offer but hails him as ‘inspiration’
Olympic champions Dame Jayne and Sir Christopher were also named in the New Year Honours list, for services to ice skating and to voluntary service.
The ice dancers, who later became the faces of celebrity competition show Dancing On Ice, took home the Olympic gold at the 1984 Winter Games for their “Bolero” performance.
After finding out about the honour, Dame Jayne, 68, said the timing seemed “perfect” after the two danced on the ice for the final time last year.
She said: “We had such a great time, we were so happy with the tour and the fact that we got through it.
“It was a big thing for us to mark our career before retirement, and then receiving this award at the end of the year, it’s just finished everything. It’s perfect.”
The Kumars At No 42 star Dame Meera Syal, 64, was recognised by the King for services to literature, drama and charity.
Born in Wolverhampton, the actress had her breakthrough writing and starring in the BBC sketch show Goodness Gracious Me.
In 2023, she was awarded the Bafta Fellowship, the academy’s highest accolade for a career on screen.
Rotherham comedian Paul Elliott, best known as one of the Chuckle Brothers, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for charitable service.
The comedy double act, made up of Paul and his brother Barry, was a staple in British homes with their TV show ChuckleVision.
Nearly 300 episodes, which aired during the 1990s and 2000s, showed the hapless, accident-prone brothers uttering their catchphrase “To me, to you” as they caused chaos everywhere they went.
Elliott has been a prominent supporter and ambassador for Marie Curie. The charity’s nurses provided end-of-life care for Barry, and Paul previously spoke about how the nurses looked after his brother “with incredible care and kindness”.