New Year Honours 2016: Barbara Windsor to become a Dame, Idris Elba gets an OBE

A record number of stars have made the Queen's New Year's Honours list with Barbara Windsor leading the pack. The 78-year-old actress – best known her roles in the Carry On film series and telling everyone to 'Get outta my pub' as feisty Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders – is set to become a Dame for her acting and charity work over six decades.

Over the course of her career the TV favourite has used her celebrity status as a platform to promote a number of worthy causes and has been heavily involved with many charities.Windsor, who is also a patron of the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which aims to help young people struggling with substance abuse by getting them involved in the arts, was previously made an MBE in 2000. Her latest accolade will see her join such luminaries such as Judi Dench and Helen Mirren.

The achievement comes 14 years after Windsor famously showed The Queen around the fictional Queen Vic during the royal's set visit to EastEnders back in 2001. An insider previously told the Sun that the Queen was "delighted" when Windsor's name was put forward. "Like Her Majesty, she is someone who has been part of the fabric of the way of life in Britain for many years," the source said.

Hackney-born Golden Globe winner Idris Elba also gets an OBE for his services to drama. The 43-year-old British actor turned Hollywood A-lister is best known for his portrayals of drug lord Stringer Bell HBO series The Wire and a detective in the BBC series Luther. With standout roles in films including Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Prometheus and Takers, he has managed to successfully break into America.