Team GB Olympians Andy Murray, Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill are among those being honoured in the 2017 New Year Honours list, which also recognises the achievements of other well-known faces, including Ken Dodd and Patricia Routledge.
Andy Murray and Mo Farah will each be knighted in the New Year, alongside Jessica Ennis-Hill and Katherine Grainger who will become dames.
Others receiving awards next year include 89-year-old comedian, Ken Dodd, who will also become a Knight. Sir Ken was previously made an OBE in 1982 for services to showbusiness and charity. He said that he is “highly tickled” at the news of his honour. Victoria Beckham will also receive an OBE for services to the fashion industry.
A knighthood for Sir Andy Murray has been long in the waiting. In 2016, the Scottish tennis player became world number one, double Wimbledon champion, double Olympic gold medalist, as well as winning Sports Personality of the Year for the third time.
Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill won heptathlon gold for Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics and a silver at the Rio Olympics. Her honour comes after the 30-year-old retired from the sport in October.
Olympic gold medal winning husband and wife, Jason and Laura Kenny, are each awarded a CBE for services to cycling.
A total of 1,047 people are included on the list this year, with just under three-quarters of the recipients being those who have undertaken outstanding work in their local community.
This year’s list is also the most diverse ever, with 9.3% of recipients coming from a black, asian and minority ethnic background, and 8.5% of recipients considering themselves to have a disability.
Over half of people receiving awards in the new year are also women – a total of 603 are named on the list.
Another married couple are also being honoured for their roles in Team GB’s Olympic success. Hockey captain Kate Richardson-Walsh and her wife, Helen – are appointed an OBE and MBE respectively.
Equestrian gold medallists Nick Skelton and Charlotte Dujardin are being appointed CBEs, alongside swimmer Sascha Kindred and para-equestrian Sophie Christiansen.
Boxer Nicola Adams, cyclist Katie Archibald and runner Jody Cundy are each receiving an OBE.
Athletes to receive MBEs include the entire gold medal-winning GB women’s hockey team, swimmer Adam Peaty, and stars of the Paraplympics including Gordon Reid, Saskia Clark and Kadeena Cox.
Double gold medal-winning gymnast, Max Whitlock, is another athlete appointed an MBE. Speaking of the news, he said: “It is a great feeling now to see it on the name card – the three letters after my name – and it gives me a lot of motivation.”
14% of the entire list this year is made up of sportspeople. As well as the many Olympians receiving honours, others names on the list include Manager of the Welsh National Football Team, Chris Coleman, who receives an OBE following his team’s success at the 2016 Euros held in France.
Sir Roger Bannister, the first ever man to run the four-minute mile, will receive a Companion of Honour for services to sport. This is the highest honour an individual can receive and comes after the knighthood he received in 1975.
Also being made a Companion of Honour is Baroness Shirley Williams, who retired from the House of Lords in 2016 after spending more than 50 years in politics.
The actress Patricia Routledge, who is best known for playing social climbing snob, Hyacinth Bucket, in Keeping Up Appearances, will be made a dame.
Speaking of the news, Dame Patricia said that she is “very surprised indeed but very pleased that the honour pertains to theatre”.
The 87-year-old has previously been appointed an OBE in 1993 and a CBE in 2004.
The oldest recipient this year is 94-year-old Janet Gillespie, who receives a British Empire Medal for her charitable service. Ms Gillespie spent over 60 years volunteering for Poppy Scotland, and only retired last year. The youngest recipient is 17-year-old Jeremiah Emmanuel, who receives a British Empire Medal for services to young people, and the community in London.
There is also a first in this year’s honours list with an award being presented for services to glassblowing. This has been awarded to Thomas Young from Bridge of Allan, Scotland. Mr Young, who receives an OBE, has been making glass by hand using traditional methods for nearly 60 years. He is being recognised for his attempts to keep the glassblowing industry moving in the region attempting to train up apprentices to keep the glassblowing industry moving in the region.
Her Majesty has also presented some of her staff with honours. Her hairdresser, Ian Carmichael, has been appointed a member of The Royal Victorian Order, whilst former communications staff, James Roscoe and Nick Loughran, have been made members of the RVO.