‘Sir Stringer Bell’: Fans celebrate as Idris Elba is knighted in New Year Honours for youth violence campaign

It’s official: Idris Elba has been knighted in the 2026 New Year Honours list by King Charles III. The London-born actor and cultural force is now Sir Idris at age 53, joining more than 1,150 stars, sporting heroes and community champions recognised for their impact on British life.

While his acting legacy is legendary, this gong is especially about his years of work supporting young people and fighting youth violence across the UK.





This isn’t just about movie roles. Idris was knighted primarily for his work with young people and his activism against youth violence. He founded the Elba Hope Foundation with his wife, a charity that funds projects focused on education, opportunity and community empowerment. His Don’t Stop Your Future initiative connects with grassroots groups to steer young people away from knife crime and toward creative futures. In 2024 he even teamed up with political leaders to push anti-knife-crime initiatives and launched youth-focused training programmes in partnership with The Prince’s Trust.



Yes, Idris has had a legendary acting career, but this honour highlights his real-world impact on youth first.



On Reddit, fans are cracking jokes like “Sir Stringer Bell” (his role in The Wire) and poking fun at what his new initials could mean. Some users are celebrating how rare it is for someone so vibrant and widely loved to get this honour at a relatively young age.

Taking to the r/movie subreddit, one user wrote, "Sir Stringer Bell. Someone needs to update all the dialogue in The Wire." "He is so talented, So handsome, So So wonderful," one user mentioned, while another joked, "Good. They need a Knight who could conceivably fight a dragon should the need arise." "Good. They need a Knight who could conceivably fight a dragon should the need arise," added one user.



Supporting young people has been part of his mission for a decade. Through the Elba Hope Foundation and other partnerships, he’s invested in programmes that build skills, confidence and real economic options for those who might otherwise be left out. The Creative Futures programme he helped launch gives free training in music, theatre and creative industries to people not in school or work, something Idris plainly cares about because he was once supported by The Prince’s Trust himself.



Of course, the knighthood doesn’t erase his Hollywood credentials. Idris is iconic for his roles on both sides of the Atlantic: from DCI John Luther in Luther to Stringer Bell in The Wire to blockbuster gigs in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and voicing Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog. He’s acted, directed films like Yardie, and cultivated creative spaces for others both on and off screen.



That mix of powerhouse performances and cultural influence has made him one of the most respected and beloved actors of his generation.