Rachel Riley receives MBE in New Year's Honours List

Rachel Riley receives MBE in New Year’s Honours List for efforts to combat antisemitism while Stephen Graham is recognised for services to drama

Rachel Riley and Stepehn Graham are among the latest stars who have been recognised in the King’s New Year’s Honours.

The Countdown presenter, 36, has received an MBE in recognition of her efforts to raise awareness of the Holocaust and combat antisemitism.

Rachel has previously been involved in the debate over antisemitism in the Labour Party and was critical of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

Recognition: Rachel Riley is among the stars who have been recognised in the King’s New Year’s Honours

The presenter, whose mother is Jewish, made a speech at Westminster in January 2019 for the Holocaust Educational Trust discussing the online abuse she has received as a public figure.

In February, she was awarded £10,000 in damages by a High Court judge after suing Corbyn’s former aide Laura Murray after a Twitter row.

In November, Rachel was awarded £50,000 in damages for libel from a political blogger who wrote an article claiming she was a ‘serial abuser’.

Stephen, 49, known for starring in Line of Duty, Boardwalk Empire and This Is England, received an OBE for his services to drama.

Honour: Rachel received an MBE in recognition of her efforts to raise awareness of the Holocaust and combat antisemitism

The actor most recently appeared as Mr. Wormwood in the musical adaptation of Matilda and he will next appear in Young Woman and the Sea opposite Daisy Ridley.

He has previously been nominated for a BAFTA and a British Independent Film Award and won an RTS award for his role in Little Boy Blue.

Meanwhile Sir Brian May, who famously played God Save The Queen on the roof of Buckingham Palace during the Golden Jubilee before performing again at the Platinum Jubilee two decades later, has been appointed a knight bachelor for services to music and charity.

The astrophysicist told the PA news agency: “I regard it as a kind of charge, like a kind of commission to do the things that one would expect a knight to do – to fight for justice, to fight for people who don’t have any voice.”

Success: Stephen Graham, known for starring in Line of Duty, Boardwalk Empire and This Is England, received an OBE for his services to drama

Success: Sir Brian May has been appointed a knight bachelor for services to music and charity

Sir Grayson Perry, the 62-year-old artist, writer and broadcaster who is known for his tapestries, ceramic works and cross-dressing, is knighted for services to the arts while fashion designer Dame Mary Quant is made a Companion of Honour. 

Comedian Frank Skinner is also part of the list and was made an MBE for services to entertainment after a 35-year career.

Lionesses captain Leah Williamson is among four of England’s Euro 2022-winning side to be named in the list, being made an OBE while her teammates Lucy Bronze, Beth Mead and Ellen White are all made MBEs.

The team’s Dutch head coach Sarina Wiegman also joins the party, after the Foreign Office made her an honorary CBE.

Career: Comedian Frank Skinner is also part of the list and was made an MBE for services to entertainment

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