BRITAIN: Actors, pop stars, celebrity chefs, captains of industry and top scientists dominate Queen Elizabeth II's birthday honours list published today - alongside office cleaners, chauffeurs and lollipop ladies.
For the first time, more than half of those honoured have been nominated or supported by members of the public, according to a government spokesman. A total of 509 names, or 52 per cent of the list, fall into this category.
Among the best known of those honoured are the actor Roger Moore, the second James Bond to the knighted (the other is Sir Sean Connery). Raucous Scottish comedian Billy Connolly, renowned for his prodigious on-stage swearing, is the recipient of a CBE and Prime Suspect actress Helen Mirren becomes a Dame, as does Anita Roddick of the Body Shop.
Pop star Sting and Naked Chef Jamie Oliver will also be visiting Buckingham Palace soon to pick up their CBE and MBE respectively. David Gilmour of Pink Floydd also gets a CBE. Sting admitted he was "surprised and flattered" by his CBE. "If my mum and dad were still here they would be made up," he said.
Showbusiness takes pride of place in a list which once again includes no new peerages. Jools Holland, the multi-talented keyboard player and host of late-night TV shows often giving new musicians the chance to show their worth, gets an OBE.
"I hope this award will be a great source of encouragement to other boogie-ists throughout the land," he said.
And Gerry Marsden, famous in the 1960s for his group, Gerry and the Pacemakers and in particular their song You'll Never Walk Alone, the Liverpool football supporters' anthem.
Sir Roger, who played the hero in seven James Bond films, gets a knighthood in the Diplomatic List for charitable services, especially to UNICEF and Kiwanis International, another children's charity.
"I am so proud to be the recipient of this great honour. I am doubly proud because this is an acknowledgement of UNICEF . . . I accept this title on behalf of the many thousands of volunteers and workers at UNICEF who dedicate their lives to helping the millions of children in need around the world today." - (PA)