New Year Honours 2020: Steve Backshall awarded MBE

CBBC star Steve Backshall said he has his parents to thank for his MBE because they encouraged him to enjoy wildlife and nature as a young boy.

The nature conservationist and television presenter has been recognised in the Queen's New Year Honours for services to charity and wildlife conservation.

Backshall, known for hosting TV series including Deadly 60 and Blue Planet Live, said:

"My mum and dad are both mad keen on the outdoors and nature. We grew up surrounded by rescue animals. From a very young age that was my reality, that was my normal, and that's all thanks to mum and dad." And Steve says he'd like to take his parents to the ceremony at the palace, "Everything I am now is very much down to them, so I owe them so, so much, and this would be a lovely way to show my gratitude, to take them along."

The honours list is made up of famous faces and members of the public who are recognised for their amazing achievements or service to the country.

They are given the special honours or medals by the Queen or other members of the Royal Family at a special ceremony called an investiture.

Ibrahim Yousaf is the youngest person to receive an award in the Queen's New Year honours list

The youngest person on the list is 13-year-old Ibrahim Yousaf, who receives a British Empire Medal (BEM) for charity fundraising in Greater Manchester.

Ibrahim also won the British Citizen Youth Award earlier this year, and began his charity work at the age of 12 when he donated his birthday money to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital charity. Ibrahim, who is a patient at the hospital, has gone on to raise thousands of pounds for lots of other good causes.

A brief guide to the honours system

• Companion of Honour - Limited to 65 people. Recipients wear the initials CH after their name

• Knight or Dame

• CBE - Commander of the Order of the British Empire

• OBE - Officer of the Order of the British Empire

• MBE - Member of the Order of the British Empire

• BEM - British Empire Medal

Who else has received awards?

England cricketers, including Ben Stokes, who won the BBC Sports Personality of the year, have also been named in the Queen's New Year Honours list.

It comes after their World Cup win in the summer. Stokes has been awarded an OBE, while his World Cup winning captain Eoin Morgan got the higher CBE award.

Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler and batsman and England Test captain Joe Root become MBEs.

Eoin Morgan said: "Winning the World Cup has been a dream come true and the honours and awards that have come since that day at Lord's really mean a lot to everyone connected with the team."

Children's television presenter and Windrush campaigner Floella Benjamin has been made a Dame for her charity work, as well as singer Olivia Newton-John, the star of the movie Grease.

Famous singer Sir Elton John, who wrote the soundtrack to the Lion King, is also on the list.

Sir Elton, who was knighted in 1998, joins the 'elite companions of honour', a group which only has a maximum of 65 members. He's been given the award for services to music and charity.

Another famous musician, Queen drummer Roger Taylor has been made an OBE. This year the film Bohemian Rhapsody, which followed the story of his band and singer Freddie Mercury, set cinema box office records.

Film director Steve McQueen, who won an Oscar for the movie 12 Years a Slave has been knighted for services to art and film.

Film director Steve McQueen, who won an Oscar for the movie 12 Years a Slave has been knighted for services to art and film. Sam Mendes who directed two Bond films; Skyfall and Spectre has also been knighted.

While England footballer Jill Scott has been awarded an MBE for services to women's football.

Female sporting success is also celebrated with an OBE for world taekwondo champion Jade Jones, and MBEs for netballers Serena Guthrie and Joanne Harten, as well as Welsh footballer Loren Dykes.

Another familiar face, TV presenter Gabby Logan, becomes an MBE for services to sports broadcasting and promoting women's sport.

Television chefs Nadiya Hussain and Ainsley Harriott also receive MBEs

While television chefs Nadiya Hussain and Ainsley Harriott also receive MBEs.

Twenty-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who played at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding in 2018 becomes an MBE.

Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason is one of the youngest people to be given an award

And after appearing on BBC Breakfast television during the 75th anniversary of D-Day, 94-year-old war veteran Harry Billinge has been is made an MBE for services to charity after raising more than £10,000 towards a national memorial for his fallen friends.

Harry Billinge has been raising money for a memorial to his fallen D-Day friends