British actor and campaigner Sir Idris Elba has disclosed a near-miss that almost cost him his recent knighthood, after the vital correspondence from the Cabinet Office got lost amongst his everyday mail.
A Close Call with Royal Recognition
The 53-year-old star, famed for roles in Luther and The Wire, was named in the New Year Honours list for services to young people, specifically acknowledging his high-profile work combatting knife crime in the UK. However, he remained completely unaware of the impending honour until a frantic call from his agent.
Appearing on The Graham Norton Show, Elba explained the embarrassing situation. "I was sent a consideration letter asking whether I would or wouldn't accept it, but I didn't see it as it got lost in a pile of post," he said. His agent later warned him that if he didn't accept, the honour would pass him by. By the time Elba finally located the crucial document, he had just two days to make his decision and reply.
An Honour for Advocacy, Not Acting
Despite the postal drama, Elba confirmed he replied in time and is profoundly glad to have received the honour, not least because it has made his mother exceptionally happy. He did, however, admit to a moment of wry reflection on the citation. "I got it for services to young people and I was thinking: 'Hang on a minute, that's great, but I've been acting for 30 years!'" he joked. "It is actually a great honour."
The actor, whose Elba Hope Foundation supports youth advocacy, emphasised that he accepts the knighthood on behalf of the many young people who inspire his charitable work. He expressed hope that the recognition would help draw more attention to the need for sustained, practical support for youth and finding alternatives to violence.
While he is yet to undergo the formal investiture ceremony—"had the sword on the shoulder"—he confirmed his wife, Sabrina, 36, is "loving it."
Star-Studded Graham Norton Show Line-Up
Elba was joined on the BBC One chat show, which airs on Friday, January 16, by a host of other celebrities. The Crown's Erin Doherty discussed being told off by her mother for swearing during a recent Emmy Award acceptance speech. She also revealed that co-star Stephen Graham initially doubted her casting in Disney+ drama A Thousand Blows because he only knew her as Princess Anne, but was "delighted" to discover her Crawley roots.
Meanwhile, Sherlock star Martin Freeman spoke about his role in the new adaptation of Agatha Christie's Seven Dials, praising its "authentic 20s voice." Actress Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners) shared that she knew her latest project would be a hit from the first scene and was moved to discover her part was written with her in mind.
The episode also featured singer-songwriter Olivia Dean, rounding out a diverse panel of British talent.
