Nobody ever erected a statue to a critic! What do you say to that? Huh? Huh? This may or may not be true. But, over the new-year period, the UK’s honours Johnnies did do the decent thing and put an OBE the way of Philip French. Film critic for the Observer for – swallow deeply – a full 50 years, French is quite properly regarded as the dean of the profession. An expert on westerns, he has remained consistent in his approach, from the late era of the Nouvelle Vague to the age of digital projection and obsessive spoiler-whining.

In other gong news, Danny Boyle, the Oscar-winning creator of the Olympics opening ceremony, was reported to have turned down a knighthood. We commend Boyle’s integrity. But we’re still happy to see Philip get his medal.