Editorials

12 Lists of Christmas: Top Ten People of The Year

14 December 2021

By Lauren E. White

Plenty of people have hit the headlines this year. But here’s the ten who made them for all the best reasons.

10. Regé-Jean Page

Actor Regé-Jean Page had us all talking about him – for the right reasonsback in January after the release of Netflix Original series Bridgerton.

Starring as The Duke of Hastings, Simon Bassett, Mr Page rebranded the period drama genre. His acting is even better than his looks and we all had a little swoon (or five) when he eventually wifed up Daphne.

9. Britney

Britney Spears has dominated headlines throughout the year, owing to her conservatorship battle. The Toxic singer had not been in control of her own financial assets for some 14 years due to her 2008 breakdown.

But, through the power of fame and fans, Britney was freed in November and now plans to get married.

8. Zendaya

Zendaya is one of those celebs that everyone is always talking about. She is a genuine star, appearing in Dune this year as well as Spider-Man: No Way Home alongside boyfriend Tom Holland.

She also won a Critics’ Choice Award for Malcolm and Marie, which she both starred in and produced.

7. Sally Rooney

Author Sally Rooney is quite possibly the hottest name around at the moment. Her third novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You, sold more than 40,000 copies in the first five days of release.

6. Taylor Swift

No artist has worked quite as furiously as Taylor Swift this year. She released two albums, Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version) which both dominated the charts.She also won the Album of the Year Grammy for folklore.

But it was the release of her ten minute version of All Too Well, alongside a short film, that really put the icing on the cake for Swift’s 2021 achievements.

5. Marcus Rashford MBE

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The man doesn’t stop, does he? If he’s not playing his part in almost winning the Euros for England, he’s lobbying the government to give free school meals to children.

This year, Rashford also launched a reading scheme to give thousands of books to kids around the country, and continues to be a voice for those who need it.

4. Sam Fender

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Our local hero Sam Fender has had quite a year after the release of his second album Seventeen Going Under in October. The record became his second number one album and produced his first top ten UK single.

Fender also played his first headline arena gig this year in Newcastle to a sell-out audience, and it was incredible. Things are about to explode for him next year, and we can’t wait.

3. Russell T Davies

Few things give me greater pleasure than praising the work of Russell T Davies. His hit drama It’s A Sin got Britain talking about something we have kept quiet about since the ’80s: the Aids crisis.

The drama showcased the truth about the public health crisis, and the neglect it was met with from the government.

Following the show, ITV’s Panorama traced the identity of the first man to have Aids in Britain for the first time.

2. Simone Biles

Simone Biles cemented her place in Olympic history this year, winning a silver and bronze medal despite having to pull out due to a case of the ‘twisties’.

Her brave and moving testimony to Congress about the years of sexual abuse she faced at the hands of Larry Nassar will stick in girls’ minds for years to come. Seeing this woman stand up for herself, and for girls everywhere, was so incredibly powerful.

1. Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu took the globe by storm at Wimbledon this summer as the wild card who wiped the floor with some seriously tough opponents.

Then, weeks later, she stormed the US Open, becoming champion at the age of 18.

Beginning the year as world number 347 and ending at world number 19, she’s been remarkable.

Raducanu’s 2021 included a Vogue photoshoot, Tiffany & Co. partnership and, of course, being ranked as Britain’s number 1 female tennis player.

Recommended Reading: The Rise of Emma Raducanu

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