VETERAN COMEDIAN Ronnie Corbett has received a CBE in Britain’s new year’s honours list, topping a string of stars honoured for their contributions to the entertainment, media, literary and sporting worlds.
These include actress Helena Bonham Carter, Sky News correspondent Alex Crawford, who won acclaim for her reporting from Libya, and veteran Australian broadcaster and critic Clive James.
Two names in television – Peter Bazalgette of Endemol, the company behind Big Brother, and Paul Smith, of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? creator Celador – are also on the list, which sees Apple’s Jonathan Ive, credited with designing the iPhone, iPod and iPad, made a Knight Commander, Order of the British Empire (KBE).
Anne Hart, wife of Edinburgh-born Corbett (81) said the comic's family was "delighted" with his CBE for services to entertainment and charity. The diminutive entertainer, famed for his monologues on The Two Ronnies, became a major star after he linked up with Ronnie Barker for what became one of the most successful sketch shows ever made.
In the media, war correspondent Crawford said she was “staggered” to receive an OBE for services to broadcast journalism and insisted: “TV news is never about just one person.”
The mother of four, now based in South Africa, became a household name after she reported live from the back of a truck as rebels advanced into Tripoli this summer.
She made headlines herself when her astonishing live dispatches were beamed around the world from a satellite link-up powered by the vehicle’s cigarette lighter.
Bonham Carter (45) who played the Queen Mother alongside Colin Firth in The King's Speech, accepted her CBE in "honour" of her father who spent the last years of his life severely disabled after a routine operation went wrong.
The Oscar-nominated actress, who is recognised for services to drama, said: “I am thrilled though not sure that I deserve it. I always thought my father deserved a medal for facing 25 years of chronic disability with quiet daily heroism, so I am delighted to accept such a wonderful honour in his memory.”
The north London-based actress – a mother of two and partner of director Tim Burton – embarked on her glittering career at school and went on to star in films including A Room With A Viewand The Wings Of The Dove.
Birmingham-born actor David Harewood (46) known for his roles in Blood Diamond, The Merchant of Veniceand television's The Vice, receives an MBE for services to drama.
An MBE for Chris Paterson (33) Scotland’s most-capped rugby player, comes a week after he announced his retirement from international rugby.
Literature is recognised with a string of accolades for writers including author and Booker prize-winner Penelope Lively (78) who is made a dame. Geoffrey Hill (79) who was appointed Oxford professor of poetry in 2010, is knighted for services to literature; Welsh poet and playwright Dannie Abse (88) is made CBE; Australian author and broadcaster Clive James (72) is made CBE; London-based author Rachel Billington (69) is made OBE; and illustrator Alex Brychta, who worked on animation for Sesame Street, is made MBE.
In politics and public life, Labour MP Joan Ruddock (68) who made her mark as a CND campaigner, environmentalist and feminist, becomes a dame for public and political services; while Lord Carlile (63) the former independent reviewer of anti-terror laws, is made CBE for services to national security. – (PA)