Entertainment Figures in 2025 New Year Honors
Steve Lamacq, Stephen Fry, Eddie Marsan, and Carey Mulligan are among the entertainment figures recognized in the 2025 New Year Honors list.
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The awards list, which acknowledges individual outstanding achievements and contributions to British society, was revealed earlier today (December 31) to celebrate the new year.
Steve Lamacq’s Contributions to Music
Veteran music broadcaster Lamacq is honored with an OBE for his contributions to broadcasting and music venues. He began his career as a music journalist in the 1980s, including a celebrated tenure at NME, and is well-known for his long-standing role in BBC radio. He launched the Evening Session show on Radio 1 with Joe Whiley in 1993, continuing solo after Whiley’s departure in 1997, before joining the newly formed BBC Radio 6 Music in 2002, where he has been ever since.
He is renowned as a relentless advocate for new music, supporting emerging indie talent in the UK for decades. Recently, he has been an outspoken champion of grassroots music venues, delivering a keynote speech at the Music Venue Trust’s Venue Day, where he lauded small venues as “the biggest A&R department in Britain.”
During his address, Lamacq expressed his outrage at the rapid closure of venues due to their “transformative power.” He argued, “Every time that happens, we lose the opportunity to witness another magical, life-changing moment,” asserting that each unperformed gig represents “30 minutes in the present that could change the future.”
About receiving the award, Lamacq stated: “It came as an incredible shock. Of course, it’s always nice to have your work recognized, especially after spending 31 years in radio.”
“I’m particularly pleased to mention music venues because live performances and the individuals who organize them have been integral to my life, alongside my radio career.”
“If I could, I would dedicate this honor to all the venues, artists, and promoters throughout the country, especially at the grassroots level, who have brought me such joy over the years, and I am proud to be one of their champions.”
Other Notable Awardees
Acclaimed actress Mulligan (Promising Young Woman, Education) was also honored with an OBE for her contributions to film, stage, and television, while Fry was knighted for his work in mental health, environmental issues, and charity. Actor Marsan (Back to Black, Careless) received an OBE for his services to the entertainment industry. The full list can be viewed here via Independent.
Other notable individuals include London mayor Sadiq Khan (Knight Bachelor), writer Kazuo Ishiguro (Knight of Honor), and former Doctor Who star Tom Baker (MBE).
Former singer, TV presenter, actress, and Hear’Say campaigner Myleene Klass has been awarded an MBE for her work in women’s health, miscarriage awareness, and charity. She has created television documentaries focusing on miscarriage after disclosing her personal experience of four miscarriages, earning recognition as a “figurehead for helping other women who have experienced baby loss.”
Last year’s honors list celebrated prominent figures such as Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis, as well as Shirley Bassey, Ridley Scott, Leona Lewis, and Emilia Clarke.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/steve-lamacq-stephen-fry-carey-mulligan-eddie-marsan-included-on-2025-new-year-honours-list-3825413?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=steve-lamacq-stephen-fry-carey-mulligan-eddie-marsan-included-on-2025-new-year-honours-list
