Former PM Gordon Brown, subpostmaster Alan Bates, and actress Imelda Staunton are among those named in the King’s Birthday Honours for 2024.

Brown received a Companion of Honour, Staunton was made a Dame, while Bates was knighted, becoming Sir Alan Bates after working tirelessly to secure justice for those wrongly accused of stealing money from the Post Office.

Other recipients include Strictly Come Dancing icon Amy Dowden, Countdown long-timer Susie Dent, TV writer Armando Iannucci, former footballers Graeme Souness and Karen Carney, and Duran Duran singer and songwriter Simon Le Bon.

But down the years, several celebrities have turned down the esteemed honours offered to them, and for a number of reasons.

Whether they felt as though they didn’t deserve the honours, or because they held anti-monarchist beliefs, several big showbiz names have said ‘No’ when presented with the Queen’s or King’s birthday honours.

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Alan Cumming

Alan Cumming received an OBE in 2009, saying he was ‘incredibly grateful’ to be honoured for services to acting and the work he does for LGBT rights in the US.

But 14 years later, in early 2023, Alan announced he would be handing his honour back, saying he had ‘opened his eyes’ to the ‘toxicity’ of the British Empire.

He said in a statement: ‘I was incredibly grateful to receive it in the 2009 Queen’s birthday honours list, for it was awarded not just for my job as an actor but for activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community, USA.’

But, he added: ‘The Queen’s death and the ensuing conversations about the role of monarchy and especially the way the British Empire profited at the expense (and death) of indigenous peoples across the world really opened my eyes.’

‘So I returned my award, explained my reasons and reiterated my great gratitude for being given it in the first place. I’m now back to being plain old Alan Cumming again.’

Michael Sheen

Much like Alan Cumming, Michael Sheen was also awarded an OBE in 2009. However, he too gave his OBE back after consideration in later years.

At the time, Michael said that he believed his home nation of Wales should be independent from the United Kingdom and that he disagreed with Prince William being made the Prince of Wales.

He told political writer and pundit Owen Jones: ‘I [researched] a lot about Welsh history. I’m still standing at the foothills of an understanding of all that, but that was a crash course.

‘I remember sitting there going, “Well, I have a choice. I either don’t give this lecture and hold on to my OBE or I give this lecture and I have to give my OBE back”. I wanted to still give the lecture so I gave my OBE back.’

He insisted that handing the award back hadn’t meant to be rude or disrespectful, and that he was ‘incredibly honoured’ to have received his OBE in the first place.

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders

Comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders were bothered offered OBEs in 2001 for their services to comedy and drama.

However, the pair turned the honours down, with Jennifer later explaining: ‘If I felt I deserved a damehood I’d accept it. At the time, we felt that we were being paid very well to have a lot of fun. It didn’t seem right somehow.’

She continued: ‘We didn’t deserve a pat on the back. It felt a bit fake to stand alongside people who devoted their lives to truly worthy causes.’

David Bowie

Before his death in 2016, David Bowie turned down not one but two honours from the Queen – first a CBE in 2000, then a knighthood in 2003.

Speaking to The Sun in the aftermath, he told them: ‘I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that. I seriously don’t know what it’s for. 

He also spoke about Sir Mick Jagger accepting a knighthood: ‘It’s not what I spent my life working for. It’s not my place to make a judgement on [Mick] Jagger, it’s his decision. But it’s just not for me.’

Living in the USA at the time, Bowie chose not to express his views on the monarchy.

George Harrison

In 1997, George Harrison’s fellow Beatles bandmate Sir Paul McCartney accepted a knighthood, while Harrison rejected an OBE he was given.

Harrison died a year later from complications with cancer at the age of 58. In 2018, Sir Ringo Starr accepted his knighthood, becoming the second Beatle to receive such an honour.

Ray Connolly, a journalist who knew The Beatles at points during their career, told the Mail: ‘Whoever decided to offer [Harrison] the OBE and not the knighthood was extraordinarily insensitive. He would have felt insulted.’

Nigella Lawson

Nigella Lawson has spent years endearing herself to the public thanks to her brilliant recipes and her brilliant pronunciation of the word ‘microwave’.

However, she wasn’t interested in accepting an OBE in 2001, turning down the offer and giving an explanation similar to Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders.

She said at the time: ‘I’m not saving lives and I’m not doing anything other than something I absolutely love.’

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From flip phones to scrunchies, things that were considered trendy and cool in the 90s and 00s are slowly making their way back into fashion today.

But this isn’t just happening in the clothes and technology sectors, even certain foods are making a big comeback.

New research has revealed that several former lunchbox staples are proving popular once more, with old school crisps in demand with shoppers.

Online supermarket Ocado.com claims sales of Smith’s Crispy Bacon Frazzles have increased by 48% over the last year, with Prawn Cocktail Skips and Smith’s Salt & Vinegar Chipsticks also on the rise, with sales rising by 47% and 42% respectively.

Other 90s favourites flying off the shelves of late include Discos, with sales up 15% month on month, and sales of Nik Naks Rib ‘N’ saucy are also growing. 

According to Ocado, it’s social media that’s fuelling the nostalgia, and crisps are no exception to the craze.

Overall, the retailer has seen multipack sales go up by 20% over the last 12 months as customers opt for the ‘great value’ they offer.

Crisp aficionado and Ocado devotee, Nigella Lawson is thrilled to see the retro crisps coming back, saying: ‘I for one am not surprised by the trend toward classic crisps in their many forms. As my crisp cauldron will testify, I have in store many of the flavours mentioned in Ocado’s list – they are the perfect accompaniment to an evening aperitivo or to snack on during essential TV viewing.’

Nathan Hawker, Buyer at Ocado Retail, added: ‘There’s been loads of innovation within the category in recent years, including a huge growth in demand for posh flavours and gourmet styles, like the M&S Collection Truffle and Olive Oil Crisps and Insta-favourite, the Torres Iberico Ham Crisps. There’s also been an explosion in crisps made from different vegetables and grains, with recent additions to the 500+ strong Ocado crisp range featuring options made from lentils, chickpeas, okra and even seaweed.

‘Sometimes however, only the familiar flavours, value and practicality of the humble retro multipack will do. With many Millennials now shopping for their own families, it looks like they are rediscovering their old lunchbox loves, while the wave of 90s nostalgia on social media is also helping to make old school crisps cool.’

If you’re craving the classics then you might be interested to know that KP Snacks recently launched two new flavours of a childhood favourite, Pom-Bears.

As well as ready salted and salt and vinegar, the bear-shaped crisps now come in cheese and BBQ options. You can nab yourself a packet from the likes of Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Waitrose, Co-op, and Asda now for £2.25 for a multipack.

This comes after Walkers recently teamed up with Heinz to launch three limited-edition flavours inspired by classic lunchtime sarnies.

First up there’s Roast Chicken and Heinz Mayo flavour, then there’s Sausage Sarnie and Heinz Ketchup, followed by Cheese Toastie with Heinz Beanz. Yep, you read that right, baked beans flavour crisps!

Walkers hailed the sandwich inception crisp flavours as ‘mind blowing’, saying they would ‘level up’ people’s lunches.

The new flavours are available in supermarkets nationwide, with 45g grab bags (£1) as well as multipacks of five for £1.65. 

The crisp giant hasn’t confirmed how long the limited-edition products will be around for, but they did warn that you’ll have to be quick if you want to try them.

Wayne Newton from Walkers told Metro.co.uk: ‘We can’t think of a better way to kick start our CrispIN vs CrispOUT debate this year than by uniting with one of Britain’s favourite household names to take lunchtimes to a whole new level.’

If this weren’t enough, the crisp giant also recently announced another new flavour, that will likely please fans of an axed 90s favourite.

Barbecue crisps were first launched by Walkers in the 1990s but were quietly discontinued a few years later.

They made a brief comeback in 2023 as a limited-edition special, but then poof, they vanished once more.

On social media, lovers of the flavour have been begging Walkers to bring them back for years, with one superfan on Reddit, known as u/UnreliableChemist writing: ‘Feel like pure s**t just want BBQ Walkers back.’

Similarly, u/Jimbobhas said: ‘The original BBQ flavour were the only crisps I liked as a kid.’ And u/Inner-Thing321 proclaimed: ‘They were the best ever flavour.’

And it seems their prayers might finally have been answered… well, kind of.

This is because the crisp giants have just revealed a new flavour and it’s pretty similar to the old favourite.

Sold in black packets, the new crisps are called Smokin’ BBQ Sauce and the best part is that you don’t have to wait long to try them, as they are available right now in Tesco supermarkets nationwide. 

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Nigella Lawson may be the new face of Greggs’s festive range – but the brand is facing a ‘sausage roll snub’ as the chef won’t put her face to the flaky pastry.

Greggs’ sausage roll is a British staple, with citizens of the UK united in their love for the humble baked good (or its vegan sister).

However, Nigella, 64, is not keen on the pastry and while she may featured in the new Christmas ad for the brand, you won’t see her promoting their most iconic item!

A source told The Sun: ‘Nigella is a huge name in the culinary world, so Greggs were thrilled when she agreed to front their festive campaign.

‘She wasn’t keen on putting her face to their sausage rolls though, and agreed to take part just to push their festive fare.’

It’s unclear exactly why Nigella isn’t a fan of the sausage roll, but the source claimed that the bakery is undeterred by her aversion to the savoury snack.

The source added that the Chef will focus on other items: ‘As well as their Christmas lunch baguette and their festive flatbread, Nigella is highlighting a special chocolate doughnut.

‘Despite the sausage roll snub, Greggs couldn’t be happier to have such a haute cuisine heavyweight on board.’

Nigella is hugely influential and a phenomenon known as the ‘Nigella effect’ has become well-documented over the years because of her impact.

In 2006, the sales of goose fat went through the roof after the TV Chef told Jonathon Ross on his BBC1 show Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, that goose fat was the essential ingredient for a perfect Christmas roast.

The Guardian reported that two weeks after the interview, Waitrose said goose fat sales had more than doubled since Lawson’s television endorsement.

Tesco agreed that their sales doubled adding: ‘Nigella certainly seems to have inspired the nation.’

In 2008 she boosted the sales of semolina after saying they were the perfect ingredient to make roast potatoes,

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