Danny Dyer, best known for his role in EastEnders, has stated he would refuse a knighthood if offered, saying the royal honour “isn’t for me” due to his strong anti-establishment stance.
The 47-year-old actor shared his views in an interview with Radio Times, revealing that he draws inspiration from his hero, the late playwright Harold Pinter, who famously declined a knighthood in 1996. “Harold was my hero and turned down a knighthood. He was anti-establishment as well, so I don’t think it’s for me,” Dyer explained when asked about the possibility of being included in the New Year’s Honours list.
Dyer, who began his association with Pinter’s work at age 22 in the play Celebration, has also performed in No Man’s Land and The Homecoming. Although Pinter rejected a knighthood during John Major’s premiership, he later accepted the Companion of Honour in 2002, followed by the Nobel Prize in Literature (2005) and France’s Légion d’honneur (2007).
Commenting on recent royal honours, Dyer drew a humorous comparison to Sir Gary Oldman, who received a knighthood in King Charles‘s Birthday Honours this year. Dyer joked he was the “cheaper version” of the Slow Horses actor, claiming Oldman was first approached for the lead role in Dyer’s upcoming Irish thriller Three Quick Breaths.
“He wanted £2 million just to read it. But I was next in line, which I’m chuffed with. If you go Gary Oldman and I’m next, it’s because I’m obviously cheaper. I’m happy to be a cheaper version of Gary Oldman,” he laughed.
In the film, Dyer plays a football agent fighting to land one final lucrative deal for his star player, as both their careers teeter on the edge. The project adds to Dyer’s growing post-EastEnders portfolio, which includes appearances in Disney’s Rivals and the new comedy series Mr Bigstuff.
Dyer’s remarks on royal recognition revisit a long-running gag that began in 2017, when comedian Michael McIntyre pranked him on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, sending a fake knighthood letter to his friends and family. The stunt led to a mix of sincere congratulations and confusion.
In a twist of irony, Dyer’s royal ancestry was confirmed in 2016 during his appearance on Who Do You Think You Are?, where it was revealed he is a direct descendant of King Edward III—a revelation that captured widespread media attention.