Stephen Fry, Jacqueline Wilson make it to King's New Year Honours 2025

Stephen Fry has reached an impressive milestone as the year 2024 nears an end.

The Blackadder and QI star Fry, 67, is being recognised for changing the conversation around mental health in the UK.

“When you are recognised it does make you feel a bit ‘crikey’, but I think the most emotional thing is that when I think of my childhood, and my dreadful unhappiness and misery and stupidity, and everything that led to so many failures as a child," said Fry, an honourary fellow of Royal College of Psychiatrists and president of the mental health charity Mind since 2011.

Fry continued, “And for my parents, really, what a disaster. I mean every time the phone rang, they thought, ‘Oh, God, what has Stephen done now?’ It was a sort of joke in the family.”

Besides Fry, many other notable individuals from arts and culture have been listed, such as Tracy Beaker author Jacqueline Wilson, and actors Eddie Marsan, Carey Mulligan, and Sarah Lancashire.

Meanwhile, Wilson has been made a Dame Grand Cross (GBE) for her contributions to literature. Earlier this year, she published Think Again, a grown-up sequel to her Girls in Love children’s novel.

Another notable awardee is Back to Black star Marsan, 56, who has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

“I am shocked, delighted and deeply honoured to receive this award. I am only in this position because of the constant love and support of my wife, my family and the people I grew up with in Bethnal Green, so I share this with them all,” said in a statement.

Bafta-winning actor and Happy Valley star Lancashire found the honour an “unexpected delight.”

Over 1,200 people across the UK have received honours in the New Year list, including Doctor Who star Tom Baker and singer Myleene Klass, gardening presenter Alan Titchmarsh, Nobel Prize-winning novelist Sir Kazuo Ishiguro, broadcaster Loyd Grossman, DJ Steve Lamacq.