15 Famous Names Who Turned Down British Honours

1. Lenny Henry

Lenny Henry gives a stand up routine on Carnaby Street, London to launch the Npower Book of Light, which features the nation's top 100 light bulb jokes for Comic Relief.
Stephen Kelly/PA Archive

That’s right. One of the latest awardees of perhaps the most prestigious British honour available has already turned down one honour, the OBE, back in 1994. Chances are this was owing to the Conservative government of the era, given he happily accepted a CBE from Tony Blair's New Labour government five years later.

The fact he’s accepted a knighthood now whilst the Tories are once again in power suggests perhaps he has become less political in his later years. Either that or he’s hoping it gives his career a much needed shot in the arm.

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