THE WORLD of music, soap opera, radio and Blind Date were all honoured yesterday in the New Year's Honours List, with Paul McCartney, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Joan Collins, and Cilla Black receiving awards.
Sir Paul McCartney, the former Beatle who also received an MBE in 1965, dedicated his New Year knighthood to his fellow Beatles and to his home town, Liverpool.
"It is a fantastic honour and I am very gratefully receiving it on behalf of all the people of Liverpool and the other Beatles without whom it wouldn't have been possible. I hope I can be worthy of it".
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber will enter the House of Lords after being awarded a barony for his musicals.
Speaking from a holiday destination, Sir Andrew, who has been irritated by years of disparagement of his work by the music establishment, said he was "deeply grateful" for the honour particularly for its "composer citation".
He was knighted for services to the arts in 1992.
Author Frederick Forsyth whose best sellers include The Day of the Jackal, becomes a Commander (of the Order) of the British Empire, which entitles him to add the initials CBE to his name.
Liverpool poet Roger McGough, who played with The Scaffold in the 1960s with Paul McCartney's younger brother, receives an OBE.
The "Queen of Soap Operas", Joan Collins, who starred as the "super bitch" Alexis Carrington in Dynasty, received an OBE for services to drama.
Cilla Black, who hosts Blind Date and Surprise Surprise, said she was "completely over the moon" to be awarded an OBE for her "services to entertainment".
Speaking from her holiday home in Spain, Ms Black, who has also just received a lifetime achievement award at the 1996 British Comedy awards, said: "It is the most thrilling start to the new year that I could have wished for. It's a great day for Liverpool. The bad news is I am dreading having to wear a new hat."
In the sporting world, David Seaman, the England and Arsenal goalkeeper, and Paul McStay, the Celtic football captain, were awarded MBEs.
Officials are keen to stress that the honours list is not just a means of rewarding the great and the good. Among the more than 1,000 people commended this year are a road mender, a newspaper seller and a waiter.