BRADLEY Wiggins, the Mod from Kilburn who made sporting history by winning the Tour de France and an Olympic gold this year, is knighted in the 2013 New Year Honours.

Sir Bradley heads a sparkling list of sporting heroes, including sailor Ben Ainslie, who gets a knighthood, para-cyclist Sarah Storey, who is made a dame, and Jess Ennis, Victoria Pendleton, Mo Farah and David Weir, who all get CBEs.

There was also recognition for the people who made the games such a success, from Lord Coe, who becomes a Companion of Honour (CH), to Jean Tomlin, who was in charge of the Games Maker programme and gets an OBE.

Away from sport, the Companion of Honour also goes to Professor Peter Higgs, the namesake of the Higgs boson, or so-called “God particle”, which was finally proved to exist in July, 48 years after he first proposed it.

The main list includes a knighthood for illustrator Quentin Blake and CBEs for artist Tracey Emin, choreographer and former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips and singer/songwriter Kate Bush.

Actor Ewan McGregor and fashion designer Stella McCartney get OBEs, while former England cricketer Mark Ramprakash gets an MBE.

Tony Blair’s wife Cherie Blair is given a CBE in recognition of her service to women’s issues and to charity in the UK and overseas.

A CBE also goes to UK digital champion Martha Lane Fox, as well as actor-turned- politician Michael Cashman MEP, best known for his role as Colin Russell in EastEnders – a participant in the first gay kiss in a British soap opera.

A total of 1,223 people were recommended to the Queen for an award.

One notable name missing from the roll is Danny Boyle, who created the epic Olympic opening ceremony.

The Trainspotting director is believed to have turned down an honour