This week, The London Standard is unveiling The Standard 100, a list of the top hundred people shaping the capital in 2024.
The list covers multiple categories including politics, media, art, music, food, business, and much more.
Today the Standard can reveal those named among the categories for London icons, Fashion, Media, Royals and Behind the Scenes.
The London icon list includes a host of household names our city can be proud of. From Kate Moss, the model, entrepreneur and “supermodel to end all supermodels” through to Sir Ian McKellen, “one of the most talented and fearless actors on the British stage” and Andrew Lloyd Webber, “the musical magician has had commuters humming his tunes on the Tube for more than half a century.”
Leading London’s media heavyweights is Lachlan Murdoch, Future proprietor of News Corp, who was born in Wimbledon and is expected to spend a lot more time here once he accedes to the News Corp throne. Joining him is Maya Jama, the TV presenter and radio DJ, beloved by millions, as well as The Spectator-duo Sir Paul Marshall and Michael Gove.
The fashion category hosts high flying fashion designer Jonathan Anderson, “the toast of London Fashion Week,” who is creative director of both his own brand JW Anderson and LVMH’s Loewe. Grace Wales Bonner, whose adidas collaboration paved the way for the Samba renaissance, is among those also included.
The Behind the Scenes section ranges from Lord Alli, Media entrepreneur, politician and “man behind the freebies scandal that would engulf the PM’s first hundred days in office” through to Matthew Freud, founder of Freud Communications, who represents the likes of Sir Mo Farah and Sir Lewis Hamilton.
The Royal category is then headed up by none other than The Prince and Princess of Wales. There can be no doubt London reaps the rewards from the charisma they exude.
London Icons
Kate Moss, Model and entrepreneur
The supermodel to end all supermodels. The girl from Croydon who made it big, invented everything from grunge to boho chic and is single-handedly responsible for the greatest newspaper splash of all time (the one of her in Nelson Mandela’s house). Now the owner of a modelling agency and burgeoning wellness empire, the icon marches — sorry, sashays — on.
Sir Ian McKellen, Actor and pub landlord
The Grapes in Limehouse has one of the toughest pub quizzes in London. Which is no surprise when you find out the landlord — who lives above — is Sir Ian McKellen. Though most know him simply as Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings, he is one of the most talented and fearless actors on the British stage — when he’s on it — and possibly the only person who can be disparaging about the late Queen and get away with it.
Sir David Attenborough, Broadcaster and naturalist
The definition of a national treasure and the UK’s honorary grandfather, Attenborough — who lives in Richmond — is a monolith of television and environmental activism. At 98, his impact is felt ever more strongly as we contemplate climate change.
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Theatre impresario
At age 76, the hits just keep on coming. Since the Sixties, London theatre has been in debt to the king of the West End. From Cats to The Phantom of the Opera, the musical magician has had commuters humming his tunes on the Tube for more than half a century.
Media
Lachlan Murdoch, Future proprietor of News Corp
Heir to the world’s top media empire, Murdoch Jr has edged out his siblings in the race to power. One star of the real-life drama that inspired HBO’s Succession, he was born in Wimbledon and is expected to spend a lot more time here once he accedes to the News Corp throne — becoming the proud owner of The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times.
Maya Jama, TV presenter and radio DJ
It girl, cover girl, formerly one half of what was Britain’s hottest couple (with Stormzy), and host of Love Island, Maya Jama’s meteoric rise shows no sign of slowing down. Her grip on culture and discourse grows with every step she takes. She will also be one of the panellists on the next season of The Masked Singer.
Sir Paul Marshall and Michael Gove, Philanthropist and journalist
A media mogul and ex-MP walk into an editorial partnership. It sounds like the set-up to a bad joke. But Michael Gove’s shrewd experience in media and government, combined with Sir Paul Marshall’s entrepreneurial spirit, might in time prove the perfect fit for The Spectator.
Lord Rothermere, Media mogul
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The man behind the Daily Mail runs the most influential newspaper in the country — as well as the most influential online news organisation in the world.
Christian Broughton, CEO, The Independent
Broughton started out making the coffee, before becoming editor and then making a spectacular transition to CEO of this global, digital news organisation. The Independent is now the largest purely digital news site in the US and the largest quality digital news brand in the UK, with a monthly audience of 4million in London alone.
Fashion
Katie Grand, Publisher and stylist
Knows everyone, feared by all; like Anna Wintour’s tomboyish cousin. The founder of Perfect magazine has given older rival Interview a run for its money in the space of four short years. No one else besides Grand has the power to score two Rihanna covers back to back — not to mention having her pose in a fur coat slurping spaghetti for one of them.
Charlotte Tilbury, Beauty mogul
Who knew make-up could make one so much cash? Tilbury sits atop the world’s foremost eponymous beauty empire and is besties with Kate Moss and Amal Clooney. Her presence on the fashion circuit is ubiquitous — when she’s not busy covering Elton John’s Your Song, that is.
Jonathan Anderson, Designer
The toast of London Fashion Week — and tipped for other leading industry jobs — is best known as the man who took Loewe out of the 20th century and firmly into the hot, zeitgeist-lassoing 21st. In other words, he’s the man to thank (or blame) for Daniel Craig’s midlife makeover.
Grace Wales Bonner, Designer
The woman who yassified sportswear and tailoring by making them one, laying the groundwork for the Samba renaissance that would ultimately end with Rishi Sunak buying a pair. She was made an MBE in 2022 for her services to fashion.
Behind the Scenes
Lord Alli, Media entrepreneur and politician
The man behind the freebies scandal that would engulf the PM’s first hundred days in office and laid the groundwork for Taylorgate. In many ways the unwitting architect of Keir Starmer’s premature stumble, and clearly unaware of quite how much power he exudes.
John Booth, Chair of the National Gallery and Prince’s Trust, philanthropist and entrepreneur
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With the courtly manners of another generation and the air of a C19 prelate, the tireless Booth quietly uses his extraordinary network to get things done for Londoners. If the “great and the good” still exist, he’s their chair.
Sir Leonard Blavatnik, Businessman
The saying “fingers in many pies” might as well have been coined about this particular oligarch, who owns most of Warner Music Group, the Theatre Royal Haymarket and hotels all over the world. He can open doors as easily as he can close them — although they’re usually revolving.
Matthew Freud, Public relations guru
Great-grandson to Sigmund, nephew to Lucian and cousin to Bella, the scion of London’s most illustrious cultural family is the founder of Freud Communications, a public relations agency which represents everyone from Sir Mo Farah to Sir Lewis Hamilton. Freud is also known for marrying into (and later departing from) an even more notorious enclave: the Murdochs.
Andrew Scott, Economist and academic
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No, not that Andrew Scott. The Professor of Economics at London Business School makes our list for his incredible work highlighting the economic benefits of longevity. Previously of All Souls College, Oxford — aka, the smartest place in the world — Scott has served as an adviser everywhere from the House of Commons to the Office for Budget Responsibility.
Royals
The Prince and Princess of Wales, Heirs to the throne
Whatever your views on the monarchy, you have to admit that the royal couple from Kensington work hard, diligently and effectively for their country, even in the most adverse circumstances. London reaps the rewards from the charisma they exude.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Philanthropists
The poster girls for what a modern royal should be, in that they actually have jobs: Beatrice’s in fintech and Eugenie’s in art. They go by the nickname of the Yorkshire Puddings, Popbitch says, which we find delicious. They’ve also done impressive philanthropic work, from dyslexia awareness to fundraising for anti-slavery charities.
