The celebrities being honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours list have been revealed, with TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, fitness expert Joe Wicks and footballer Marcus Rashford among those recognised.
In 2020, the list is heavily populated by “unsung heroes” who contributed during the coronavirus pandemic, which includes a number of famous faces.
The Body Coach Joe Wicks is to receive an MBE for the “accessible, live workouts” he delivered during lockdown, which helped raise money for NHS charities, as is fellow fitness guru Derrick Evans (who you might know better as TV’s Mr Motivator).
Marcus Rashford has also been recognised on the honours list, again receiving an MBE, “for services to vulnerable children in the UK during Covid-19”.
The 22-year-old Manchester United player campaigned for families in England to receive food vouchers during the summer holidays earlier this year.
Receiving CBEs this year are professor Brian Cox, screenwriter Sally Wainwright, actor Adrian Lester and the aforementioned Lorraine Kelly.
Former rugby player Gareth Thomas is also to receive a CBE, while former Great British Bake Off judge Mary Berry and actor Maureen Lipman will both receive damehoods.
Meanwhile musicians Dizzee Rascal and Lady Leshurr will receive and an MBE and BEM, respectively.
It has been noted that the majority of the list was compiled before the coronavirus pandemic hit, but was “deferred in order to consider nominations for people playing crucial roles during the first months of the Covid-19 effort”.
As well as celebrities and other public figures, the list has “prioritised frontline and community heroes who went above and beyond their duties to help others”, with more than a quarter of those being recognised having made “exceptional contributions… in response to the Covid-19 pandemic”.