Artist Tracey Emin, actress Imelda Staunton, former prime minister Gordon Brown and cyclist Mark Cavendish are among the famous faces recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list . Emin, 60, the former enfant terrible of the art world, receives a damehood, as does Staunton, 68, who earned a Bafta and a Golden Globe nomination playing Queen Elizabeth II in series five and six of The Crown. Former world champion and sprinting great Cavendish, 39, the joint record holder for Tour de France stage wins with 34 victories, is knighted.
Countdown star and i columnist Susie Dent is made an MBE, as is Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon , while political satirist Armando Iannucci, creator of The Thick Of It has his OBE upgraded to a CBE. Emin, who shot to fame when she was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1999, said: “Dame Tracey has a good ring to it. I’m very, very happy.
Another brilliant surprise in my life.” Theatre and film star Staunton said she was “really thrilled” at her damehood, which also recognises her charity work. “I feel genuinely humbled to be recognised on the same level as the amazing actresses, all the great Dames, who have led the way for so many of us,” she said.
“It is their talent, dedication, wit and energy that have paved the way for us all and have set the standards to which we all aspire.” Manxman Cavendish’s first coach Dot Tilbury said everyone on the Isle of Man “from young children to grannies” was proud of the Olympic silver .
