12 Lists of Christmas: Celebrities

2014 has seen many hit singles, box office smashes, literature breakthroughs and acts of bravery and passion – something that every person in this list has accomplished this year. Despite the stigma around the celebrity world and lifestyle, there are ten celebrities who have really made this year one to remember for all of the right reasons. Counting down to the most deserving of praise and influential famed individual, here is our 12 Lists of Christmas focusing on celebrities:

10. Bob Geldof

After the tragic death of his daughter Peaches in April this year, Bob Geldof has had months of grief to endure before he could finally move on. It seemed that this November, Geldof had cleared his head and was ready to do some good in the world – hence the return of Band Aid. Geldof united the likes of Bono, Ed Sheeran, Chris Martin and a plethora of other musicians to re-record ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ raising funds for the Ebola crisis.

9. Simon Cowell

Perhaps the most famous music mogul the world has ever seen, Simon Cowell has become a household name. Discovering the likes of One Direction, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, TV’s ‘Mr Nasty’ was, er, not so nasty this year after the birth of his son Eric. It appears that Cowell has mellowed and is someone who many people, including us at b**p, look up to and see as an inspiration. Good on you, Si.

8. Ella Henderson

A contestant turned nationwide star. Ella Henderson finished in just sixth place on X Factor in 2012, but despite her loss on the talent show, Henderson has since made a name for herself around the country with her smash-hit number one debut single ‘Ghost’ and her number one debut album Chapter One. It has been a year of success for the singer-songwriter and she is proof that if you go in the direction of your dreams, they may just come true.

7. David Walliams

The star of TV shows Little Britain and Come Fly With Me has arguably became a national treasure over the years he has been involved in the showbiz world, but David Walliams has taken a brand new approach to his career. Writing books that are influencing children is now Walliams’ forte – the likes of ‘Billionaire Boy’, ‘The Boy in the Dress’ and ‘Gangsta Granny’ are only some of his novels for children beginning one of life’s biggest adventures – reading. Walliams has spent weeks at the top spot of best-sellers, finding unprecedented success with his latest book, ‘Awful Auntie’.

6. Sam Smith

Sam Smith AKA the male version of Adele. His soulful voice and fresh material has truly mesmerised the nation, as well as the Yanks across the pond. Smith’s debut solo album, In the Lonely Hour, has been an international success while its third single, ‘Stay With Me’ followed the same pattern and peaked atop the US and UK singles charts alike. No wonder Smith won BBC’s Sound of 2014 poll.

5. One Direction

The annual album from the five boys has earned them a place on our top ten celebrities of this year. Forget their old albums like Up All Night and Midnight Memories, the global superstars have returned with their best album to date that finally proves their credibility as musicians to not just their fans, but critics and everyone else alike. FOUR has ruled the charts from it’s release on November 17th and took over iTunes in the week leading up to it and following.

4. Angelina Jolie

American sweetheart Angelina was given an honorary damehood from the Queen due to her humanitarian work, to which she has ‘dedicated her life’ in a private ceremony in October. Jolie has recently announced her decision to retire from acting in order to focus on directing and writing as she had apparently ‘never felt comfortable in front of the camera’. It’s safe to say that Ange’s work on camera will be missed, but her work behind the camera is highly anticipated.

3. Lynda Bellingham

Finishing in a well-deserved third place on our list, is the beloved Lynda Bellingham. When face of every Oxo advert from 1983 to 1999 was diagnosed with cancer, the whole nation went into shock. Bellingham’s battle with the disease was not publicly documented until she decided to end her treatment in the hope of making it to Christmas this year. Unfortunately, Lynda passed away in October this year, but published her book There’s Been Something I’ve Been Dying to Tell You before she passed away in the hope it would help everyone come to terms with the idea of death and that it happens to all of us.

2. Ed Sheeran

The ‘ginger Jesus’ who has captured the hearts of the world in his hands released his second studio album, X, this year which gave him his first UK number one with ‘Sing’. X became the fastest selling album of 2014 and hasn’t seemed to die down since its release. Sheeran’s contribution to the music industry is phenomenal, writing songs for not only himself but the likes of One Direction and Taylor Swift – every one of them completed to a perfect standard. Sheeran is deserving of a place on our list this year as it has been one filled with success for the musician and we look forward to his next album – maybe it will be called – and if so, remember you heard it here first.

1. Emma Watson

She put down her broomstick as Hermoine Grainger in 2011 and since then, Emma Watson has went on to even greater things. Watson has become an inspirational figure to both men and women this year as she became the face of UN Women’s #HeForShe campaign – working for gender equality around the world. Her New York speech for UN Women in September for the campaign has attracted over six million views on YouTube meaning that those individuals know that gender equality is also a man’s problem too. Watson has landed in first place this year and rightly so – her work has only just begun, but it is a journey that we here at b**p are eager to follow.