Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton, actor Sheila Hancock, singer Craig David and soap stars Sally Dynevor and Nina Wadia are among the celebrities who have been honoured in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.
The seven-time Formula One world title winner is to become Sir Lewis Hamilton after being awarded knighthood.
The honour tops off an incredible year for the sports star, after equalling Michael Schumacher’s record with a seventh Formula One title and being voted Sports Personality of the Year for a second time.
Lewis’ knighthood was included on the Diplomatic and Overseas List as he has not resided permanently in the UK since 2007, initially moving to Switzerland and then on to Monaco.
Meanwhile, there is a damehood for Sheila Hancock, who is famed for her wide-ranging stage and screen career.
Commenting on the award, she joked she felt “slightly miscast”, saying: “I’ve never felt myself this sort of person. It just doesn’t happen to people like me. I feel I may be lowering the tone. I feel slightly miscast, let’s put it that way.”
Singer, DJ and music producer Craig David is recognised with an MBE for services to music.
Among the other film and TV stars to be honoured are Corrie legend Sally Dynevor, who plays Sally Metcalfe in the ITV soap and former EastEnders star Nina Wadia, who appeared as Zainab Masood from 2007 to 2013.
Sally, who has been on the Coronation Street cobbles since 1986, becomes an MBE, while Nina, who rose to fame in sketch show Goodness Gracious Me, has been awarded an OBE.
Sally said of her award: “I am humbled, grateful and very proud to have received this honour. I am still in shock.
“I didn’t believe it was real when I first found out earlier this month that I was to be given an MBE. Keeping it a secret has been so difficult.
“During the 60th anniversary of Coronation Street I was reminded daily of my time on the show – the young girl in those scenes 35 years ago could only have dreamed of the incredible things that were going to happen in the coming years.”
Of her recognition, Nina told the PA news agency: “Now it’s sort of sunk in, I genuinely am still finding it hard to believe. I’m very excited of course, I feel it’s a huge, huge honour that this has come my way.
“It’s made my last 30 years of my career, all the hard times, feel worthwhile.”
Academy Award nominee Lesley Manville receives CBE for services to drama and charity, and actor Toby Jones, who appeared in the Harry Potter franchise, becomes an OBE.
Line Of Duty and Bodyguard writer and creator Jed Mercurio is also made an OBE, while Oscar-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins, who is based in California and known for films including Blade Runner 2049 and 1917, is also knighted in the overseas list.
Veteran footballers Jimmy Greaves and Ron Flowers are also made MBEs after a long-running campaign to ensure every surviving member of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad gets an honour.