Steve Lamacq, Stephen Fry, Eddie Marsan and Carey Mulligan are among the entertainment figures included in the New Years Honours list for 2025.
The list of honours, which celebrates individual outstanding achievements and contributions to British society, was revealed earlier today (December 31) to mark the new year.
The veteran music broadcaster Lamacq receives an OBE for his services to broadcasting and music venues. He started out as a music journalist in the 1980s, including becoming a celebrated writer for NME for many years, and later became best known for his long career on BBC Radio, launching the Radio 1 Evening Session show with Jo Whiley in 1993. He remained on the show after Whiley left in 1997, before joining the newly-launched BBC Radio 6 Music in 2002, where he has remained ever since.
He has earned a reputation as a tireless champion for new music and has supported emerging indie talent in the UK for decades. In recent years, he has also been outspoken in his support for grassroots music venues in the UK, recently delivering a keynote speech at the Music Venue Trust’s Venues Day, in which he described small venues as “the biggest A&R department in Britain”.
At the event, Lamacq spoke passionately about his “fury” at the rate at which venues are closing due to their “transformative power”. “Every time this happens, we lose the opportunity for another magic and life-changing moment,” he argued, claiming that every gig that goes unplayed represents “30 minutes in the present that could have changed the future”.
Speaking about receiving the award, Lamacq said: “This came as an incredible shock. Obviously it’s always nice to have your work recognised, especially having just clocked up 31 years in radio.”
“But I’m especially pleased at the mention of music venues as well, because live gigs and the people who put them on have been such a huge part of my life alongside my broadcasting career.”
“If I could, I’d dedicate this honour to all the venues and artists and promoters across the country, especially the ones at grassroots level, who have given me such joy over the years, and I’m proud to be one of their champions.”
Acclaimed actress Mulligan (Promising Young Woman, An Education) is also awarded an OBE for her work in film, stage and television, while Fry is knighted for his services to mental health awareness, the environment and charity. Actor Marsan (Back To Black, Happy-Go-Lucky) receives an OBE for services to the entertainment industry. The full list can be viewed here via The Independent.
Among some of the other notable names included are Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (Knights Bachelor), author Kazuo Ishiguro (Order of the Companions of Honour) and former Doctor Who Tom Baker (MBE).
Former Hear’Say singer, broadcaster, actor and campaigner Myleene Klass is named an MBE for services to women’s health, miscarriage awareness and to charity. She has made television documentaries on the subject of miscarriage, after speaking publicly about suffering four miscarriages herself and has been recognised as a “figurehead to help other women who have experienced baby loss”.
Last year’s list included Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis alongside Shirley Bassey, Ridley Scott, Leona Lewis and Emilia Clarke.
