‘On me head son!’: Idris Elba overjoyed at OBE award
‘I couldn’t be more proud’ – Elba on his award. Photograph: Idris Elba Instagram
Hollywood star Idris Elba has been awarded an OBE by the Queen in the New Years Honours List 2016.
The actor and DJ, who grew up on the former Holly Street Estate in Dalston, starred in the hit US series The Wire and won a Golden Globe for his role in BBC crime drama Luther.
In July he brought a special edition of 7 Wallace, his promotion and DJ outfit, to Oslo, a food and music venue in Hackney Central.
Elba described the award as “beyond special”:
Another name on the New Years Honours list was Carmel McConnell, who was awarded an MBE for her services to school food.
McConnell founded the Magic Breakfast charity, which provides free breakfasts to needy schoolchildren, after hearing five Hackney headteachers explain they brought in breakfast for pupils who were too hungry to learn.
Her charity tweeted this morning:
Delighted @MagicCarmel has been awarded an MBE for services to school food #NewYearsHonours https://t.co/nV5BWm3XHk pic.twitter.com/FtCbeProKw
— Magic Breakfast (@magic_breakfast) December 31, 2015