The 14 famous people who defined 2023 (2024)

The year 2023 delivered some monumental events, with King Charles III crowned and war breaking out in the Middle East.

Boris Johnson resigned as MP, Sir Keir Starmer tried to persuade voters Labour is ready for power, and across the pond, Donald Trump got his mugshot taken.

But outside of politics, a series of media scandals and successes reminded us that not all of the important stories, or people, come from Westminster.

While billionaires like Elon Musk jostled for power, pop megastar Taylor Swift bestrode the globe, daytime favourites Holly and Phil left This Morning, and Tom Wambsgans won the Succession finale.

Here is a look at the famous faces who defined 2023.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift reached new heights in 2023 despite some being surprised that Time magazine made her their ‘person of the year’.

Last year’s choice for this prestigious accolade was Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky. Other past recipients include Martin Luther King Jnr and Queen Elizabeth II.

However, not even Michael Jackson at his peak came close to the heights Swift has scaled this year.

Her accomplishments include most concert tickets sold, the highest-grossing concert tour of all time, top artist on Spotify, huge sales of multiple albums, and her Eras concert tour – which she produced herself – nominated for a Golden Globe.

Sir Elton John

Sir Elton John brought his epic farewell tour to a close on 8 July at a tearful concert in Copenhagen, calling time on his 50-plus years as a touring artist.

This summer, he wowed Glastonbury Festival with a headline performance for the ages.

In a glittering suit, the ‘Rocket Man’ ended his set while a record-breaking 7.6 million waved farewell to a music legend through their televisions.

The Duke (and duch*ess) of Sussex

Prince Harry’s autobiography Spare became the fastest-selling non-fiction book ever, with more than 3.2 million copies shifted in the first week.

With a reported £88m Netflix deal under their belt, the Sussexes were off to a strong start.

But the duch*ess’s podcast Archetypes was dropped by Spotify after only one season, with the streaming service’s head of podcast innovation and monetisation Bill Simmons describing them as “grifters” when their £16m multi-year deal with the company was cancelled.

However, after winning substantial damages in his hacking case against the Daily Mirror, in a judgment that will have profound implications for the British media, the couple ended the year on a high.

Mary Earps

Mary Earps had a stormer of a year, winning the Sports Personality of the Year award earlier this month, but her biggest moment of 2023 was saving a penalty in a World Cup final that England lost.

It was a stop that is best remembered for Earps yelling “f*ck off” as the Lionesses scrambled forwards in search of a late equaliser.

Earlier this year, the 30-year-old’s response to Nike’s decision not to sell her shirt during this summer’s Women’s World Cup sparked a wave of support. They sold out within minutes when eventually released before Christmas.

Philip Schofield

In May, Phillip Schofield sensationally quit ITV and admitted to an affair with a younger male colleague at This Morning while he was still married.

The 61-year-old said the “consensual on-off relationship” was “unwise, but not illegal”.

He admitted he lied about the relationship to ITV, his colleagues, friends and his agents, YMU, who later parted ways with Schofield.

The network subsequently asked a barrister to lead a review into its handling of the relationship. Neither Schofield nor the colleague participated in the review.

Greta Gerwig

Margot Robbie began the press tour for Barbie back in April at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, and a cultural phenomenon followed.

It is the only billion-dollar blockbuster directed solely by a woman, Greta Gerwig, and it turned a plastic fashion doll into a feminist icon.

As both star and co-producer of the record-breaking film, Robbie thrilled critics and audiences, while America Ferrera’s powerful soliloquy on womanhood went viral.

The social media-fuelled fusion of Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer as “Barbenheimer” brought moviegoers back to the cinemas in record numbers.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk killed Twitter in 2023.

The world’s richest person paid a $44bn deal for the company last year, which he rebranded as X and a vision of what a “free speech” platform should be.

After reducing the workforce to a skeleton crew, he drove major advertisers away and manufactured a bizarre feud with Mark Zuckerberg.

His huge following on X and constant posting mean he has opined on Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict, the next US Presidential election, the debate about antisemitism at Harvard, and many other issues.

Gary Lineker

Gary Lineker found himself at the centre of a media storm in March this year when he was asked to take a break from hosting Match of the Day following a tweet about the government’s treatment of asylum seekers.

Writing on his personal Twitter account, he likened the language used when commenting on migrants to that of Germany in the 1930s.

After taking a weekend off presenting the show, he was invited back and the situation was independently reviewed, with new rules put into place.

More recently, Tory MPs have accused Gary of breaching the BBC’s new social media rules, after he found himself caught up in an online row with backbencher Jonathan Gullis.

Gullis criticised him for signing an open letter speaking out against the Government’s Rwanda bill, which was ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court in November.

Jenni Hermoso

World Cup winner Hermoso found herself at the centre of a global media storm when Luis Rubiales, the former president of Spain’s football federation, kissed her on the lips after the World Cup final.

Rubiales was later banned from football for three years, but the incident, described as “Spain’s MeToo moment”, prompted demands for women’s voices to be heard – and believed – across society.

Hermoso was one of more than 80 players who signed a letter calling for systemic change within Spain’s federation.

Jordan Henderson

Jordan Henderson, former Liverpool captain and a self-confessed “LGBT ally”, struggled to defend his move to Saudi Arabia this year.

The England midfielder announced his move to Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia back in July. In Saudi Arabia, hom*osexuality is a crime that can attract imprisonment and corporal punishment.

Henderson’s attempts to justify the move came months later in an interview with Athletic where he said he had gone “above and beyond” in the past for the LGBT community.

“I’ve worn the laces. I’ve put on the armband,” he said. “All I ever tried to do was help.”

He claimed “having someone with [my] views and values in Saudi Arabia is only a positive thing”.

Stuart Broad

Cricketer Stuart Broad has certainly left his mark in sport. Regarded as one of the greatest Test bowlers of all time, Broad left his professional sporting career this year with some massive successes under his belt.

He was a member of the England team that won the 2010 ICC World Twenty20. And being the second-highest England Test wicket-taker with 604 scalps, the 37-year-old announced his retirement just before the final Ashes Test against Australia in July 2023, singing off dramatically as he hit a six off his final ball faced.

Hannah co*ckcroft

Britain’s Hannah co*ckroft maintained her dominance with a 14th world title at the Para Athletics World Championships in Paris this year.

The 30-year-old retained her title in the T34 800m with teammate Kare Adenegan taking silver. It was GB’s eighth gold medal of the championships.

She has since called for a return to the levels of support seen in 2012 and is hopeful next year’s Paralympics will be the perfect launchpad to do so.

With the Paris 2024 Paralympics only one year away, the Games are set to inspire people and communities all across the country.

Kevin Sinfield

One of the year’s most moving moments came as a “celebration of friendship” as Kevin Sinfield carried Rob Burrow across the finish line of the Leeds Marathon.

Sinfield ran the race while pushing Burrow, who has motor neurone disease (MND), in a specially adapted wheelchair for the full 26.2 miles.

Sinfield and Burrow were teammates and close friends when they played rugby league for Leeds Rhinos.

Burrow revealed he had been diagnosed with MND in January 2020 and in December that year, Sinfield started running in his honour and to raise money for everyone affected by the disease.

Hannah Waddingham

Hannah Waddingham’s appearances in multiple Christmas adverts this festive season have already cemented her as the breakout star of 2023.

It’s a fitting end to a sparkling year for Waddingham. The 49-year-old has hosted the most glamorous events of 2023, from the Olivier Awards to Eurovision.

She released a musical extravaganza filmed at the London Coliseum, Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas, on Apple TV+ earlier this month.

Pictured with Prince William as host of the Earthshot prize, she has also entered the bookies’ race to replace Holly Willoughby on This Morning.

Saying goodbye to Ted Lasso appears to only be the beginning.