Sir Idris Elba says he almost missed out on his Knighthood after letter from the King got lost ‘in a pile of post’

Sir Idris Elba has revealed he almost missed out on his Knighthood because the consideration letter ‘got lost in a pile of post’.

The actor, 53 was recognised in the New Year Honours list ‘for services to young people’ following his campaign against knife crime in the UK, but wasn’t aware of it until just two days before the deadline to accept. 

During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, which airs on Friday, he said: ‘It’s a bit embarrassing. 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.

‘My agent told me that if I didn’t accept it would pass me by. By the time I found the letter I had only two days to decide.’

However, Elba found the letter and replied in time and he’s glad to have been given the honour because it’s made his mother very happy.

He added: ‘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!’ It is actually a great honour, and my mum is so pleased’.

The Luther star also admitted that while he has not yet ‘had the sword on the shoulder’ at an investiture, his wife Sabrina, 36, was still ‘loving it’. 

Idris previously explained he felt pleased to have his efforts to end knife-crime in the UK recognised because it will raise awareness and help more young people.

He told Extra: ‘I’ve worked, you know, trying to raise as much awareness about what young people are going through, especially in the UK and other parts of the world.

‘It’s a real honour to be recognised for that. Not for my acting work, but, you know, for trying to make a difference for young people.’

Idris was joined on The Graham Norton show by Adolescence star Erin Doherty, Sinners actress Wunmi Mosaku, Sherlock star Martin Freeman, and singer-songwriter Olivia Dean. 

Speaking about her recent Emmy speech amid her winning streak for her role in the hard hitting Netflix drama, Erin said: ‘My mum told me off for swearing. I didn’t mean to, but everyone looked so f**king stunning. I’ve promised her I won’t do it again!’.

She also opened up about being able to use her own London accent for the first time, in her role as Victorian thief Mary Carr in Disney + drama A Thousand Blows.   

‘When [co-star] Stephen Graham heard I was being considered for the role he said: ‘I don’t think she is what we are looking for’ because he had only seen and heard me as Princess Anne in The Crown. He was delighted to find out I’m from Crawley!’.

Asked about his role in new Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, Martin said: ‘I didn’t know these characters as they are from the early novels’. 

‘The story is set in a weird place in time. It is the Roaring Twenties, which was mired in the grief and loss of WW1. It has an authentic 20s voice that still feels good to our modern ears. It is funny and moving and was great fun to do’. 

Meanwhile Wunmi said she knew straight away that Sinners, which also stars Michael B Jordan, would be a hit: ‘I felt from the moment I read the first scene,’ 

‘With its depth and humanity, it was going to be amazing. It is romantic and beautiful, and my character exudes love and knowledge. I found out on the last day of filming that the part was written with me in mind. I had no idea. It is amazing’.

Idris, whose Elba Hope Foundation supports youth advocacy, said he was accepting the honour on behalf of the ‘many young people’ at his charity who inspire his work.

He said: ‘I hope we can do more to draw attention to the importance of sustained, practical support for young people and to the responsibility we all share to help them find an alternative to violence.’

Jayne Torvill, 68, and Christopher Dean, 67, are made a Dame and a Knight for services to ice skating and to voluntary service.

The pair took home Olympic gold at the 1984 Winter Games before gaining household fame appearing on Dancing on Ice.

Sir Christopher, who faced an agonising wait as his letter came three days after that of his skating partner, said: ‘It’s such an amazing award to receive this and we’re really humbled by it.’

Dame Jayne said the timing felt ‘perfect’ as the pair completed their final ever tour earlier this year.

A year after former Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate was knighted, the Lionesses Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman, 56, was awarded with an honorary damehood.

Her squad featured heavily following their second Euros win in the summer with captain Leah Williamson, 28, made a CBE and teammates Alex Greenwood, 32, Keira Walsh, 28, Georgia Stanway, 26, and Ella Toone, also 26, made MBES.

Wiegman, who cannot receive a substantive damehood as she is not British, said: ‘I would like to express my sincere gratitude for this honour.

‘When I first arrived in England, I could never have imagined the respect and warmth I’ve experienced from the English people. I deeply thank the fans for their support.’

The Graham Norton Show BBC One and iPlayer Friday January 16 at 10.40pm