THE EM.B.E
Brit tennis ace tipped for New Year gong
TENNIS star Emma Raducanu will be one of many sporting icons to receive gongs in the New Years’ honours list.
The US Open champ, 19, is tipped to become the youngest ever recipient of an MBE for her extraordinary success in New York.
She swept past Leylah Fernandez in the final to win the women’s singles title 6-4, 6-3 in September, just months after she took her A-levels.
This month she was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year and an honour from the Queen would cap a perfect year. She will be joined by England football stars who stormed to the Euro 2020 final.
The England team lifted the nation’s spirits as they reached their first final in 55 years and only lost to Italy on penalties. A Whitehall insider said: “In a year marred by Covid, these sporting heroes gave us a reason to be cheerful. It’s right that they are rewarded for their remarkable success.”
Meanwhile, heroes of the Covid crisis
will also be recognised for their remarkable efforts during the pandemic.
Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance – knighted in 2019 for services to open clinical science – is likely to be rewarded.
Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty is also up for a mention as the Queen heaps praise on those who guided the UK through the crisis.
Mel B is set to receive an MBE in recognition of her services to domestic violence victims.
The Spice Girl and charity patron, 46, has bravely opened up about her own experience of abuse and has relentlessly campaigned for change, even taking her
crusade to Downing Street back in 2019. She fronted a Women’s Aid campaign – a music video called Love Should Not Hurt – in which she portrayed a character who was badly beaten.
Good Morning Britain host Kate Garraway, 54, is in line to receive a gong in recognition of her 32-year broadcasting career.
This includes her award-winning documentary on husband and ex-political adviser Derek Draper’s Covid battle.
Kate will likely receive an MBE or CBE. Derek, 54, was rushed to hospital in March last year after falling ill with the virus.