Essex TV star Rachel Riley receives MBE for raising Holocaust …
Essex TV presenter and mathematician Rachel Riley has received an MBE at Windsor Castle for her work in raising awareness of the Holocaust and combating antisemitism. The Countdown presenter, 37, from Southend, was honoured for her services to Holocaust education as an avid campaigner in the New Year Honours list.
She was a vocal critic of Labour’s handling of alleged antisemitism within the party and condemned Jeremy Corbyn’s conduct while leader. Riley, who has co-hosted the Channel 4 show since 2009, was paid £10,000 in damages by Mr Corbyn’s former aide, Laura Murray, following a High Court libel case in August last year.
In 2019, she explained the abuse she received on social media as a public figure during a speech for the Holocaust Educational Trust in Westminster, with her mother being Jewish. Riley wrote on Twitter after the honour’s announcement: “Incredibly proud to have just been awarded an MBE for services to Holocaust education.
“Grateful to everyone who has sent well wishes and support over the years. This is very much shared with so many people who also dedicate their time and energy to fighting anti-Jewish racism.”
Sir Alok Sharma and David Harewood are among the other notable names set to collect honours at the event. Sir Alok, a former Conservative cabinet member, has been MP for Reading West since 2010 and also served as president for Cop26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow.
He has remained vocal on environmental policy and last week called on the Government to remain committed to an £11.6 billion climate pledge. Fellow MP Sir Tony Lloyd, who holds a Labour seat in Rochdale, will also be honoured for his public service – having represented his party since the early 1980s.
Actor and broadcaster Harewood, best known for his role in US drama series Homeland, was recognised in the honours list with an OBE for services to drama and charity after he became a prominent voice for mental health support and against racism.
Rachel Riley is made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by King Charles III at Windsor Castle (Image: PA)
He said on Instagram: “An award from a new King should be cause for massive celebration, and yet already I hear the chorus of self-defeating voices rattling around my head, thoughts of ‘Empire’ and subjugation confusing the picture and again shifting the earth underneath.
“I stop for a moment and think of all the others whose contributions have gone unnoticed and unpaid for and accept this award on their behalf, and continue to speak truth to power whenever and wherever I see the need.” Two men will receive honours for services to music, with Moody Blues frontman Justin Hayward also collecting an OBE and pianist Sir Stephen Hough receiving his knighthood.
Sir Stephen, who made 29 appearances at the BBC Proms, was recognised in the late Queen’s Birthday Honours last year for a career that includes eight Gramophone Awards. He said he saw the knighthood as an acknowledgement that classical music is “something of continuing relevance and importance in British cultural life”.
References
- ^ The latest celebrity news from Essex (www.essexlive.news)