Women beat the men for the first time: Females in the new year's honours list outnumber men
- Penelope Keith led a cast of female stars in the new year’s honours list
- Murder, She Wrote actress Angela Lansbury will also be made a dame
- Katherine Jenkins, 33, who was honoured for services to music and charity
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Penelope Keith led a cast of female stars in the new year’s honours list yesterday, as women outnumbered men for the first time.
The Good Life actress said she was ‘elated, exhausted and thrilled’ to become a dame – an accolade which would have delighted her social climbing on-screen character Margot Leadbetter.
Murder, She Wrote actress Angela Lansbury will also be made a dame and there were OBEs for actress Lynda Bellingham, classical singer Katherine Jenkins and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig.
Penelope Keith led a cast of female stars in the new year's honours list yesterday, as women outnumbered men for the first time
Sculptor Antony Gormley is to receive a knighthood, Met Office chief scientist Professor Julia Slingo will become a dame and broadcaster Nicholas Parsons and actor Michael Crawford will both receive CBEs.
But there were no honours for Wimbledon winner Andy Murray and footballer David Beckham, who announced his retirement earlier this year.
Following last year’s honours, which recognised Britain’s Olympic heroes, this year’s list was dominated by a record number of female recipients.
Overall, 51 per cent of this year’s honours were given to women, compared with 34 per cent in the 2004 list, 28 per cent in 1994 and just 17 per cent back in 1974.
Sir Bob Kerslake, head of the Civil Service and chairman of the central honours committee, said it represented a ‘deep-rooted and significant change’.
Other women on the list included entrepreneur Karren Brady, NHS campaigner Julie Bailey and 1969 Wimbledon winner Ann Jones, who will all receive CBEs. Male ballet star Carlos Acosta will get the same award.
Gavin and Stacey co-creator, actress Ruth Jones, Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud and DJ Pete Tong will all be awarded MBEs.
Linda Bellingham, 65 and best known for her role in the Oxo family TV adverts, said her OBE was a boost following a year in which she was diagnosed with cancer
Katherine Jenkins, 33, who was honoured for services to music and charity, said she felt 'incredibly humbled'
Miss Keith, 73, joked she forgot about her honour when her home in Surrey was one of thousands left without power in last week’s storms.
Her electricity went off on Christmas Eve, leaving her and husband Rodney eating sardines for their festive meal on Christmas Day.
Speaking of her damehood for services to the arts and to charity, she said: ‘I found out six weeks ago but the way it works is they send you a letter and then you have to eat it and keep quiet on pain of death.
‘And I must admit that when the electricity went off I rather forgot about it.’
Miss Keith, who has already received an OBE and a CBE, added: ‘I sort of feel elated, exhausted and thrilled. It’s the big one ... I don’t know what is better than the icing on the cake, but this is.’
Miss Bellingham, 65 and best known for her role in the Oxo family TV adverts, said her OBE was a boost following a year in which she was diagnosed with cancer.
‘It has been a long and tough year but this award is just a fantastic way to move forward,’ she added.
‘I feel honoured and inspired and very grateful.’
Miss Jenkins, 33, who was honoured for services to music and charity, said she felt ‘incredibly humbled’.
Angela Lansbury will become a dame, and Gavin and Stacey co-creator, actress Ruth Jones will be awarded an MBE
‘To accept such an award after only a decade of service to music and charity comes as a wonderful surprise,’ she said. ‘I share this award with the charitable bodies I am so privileged to work with, especially to those brave servicemen and women who risk so much for us all on a daily basis.’
Actor and singer Mr Crawford, 71, who starred as hapless Frank Spencer in sitcom Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, said his CBE would have delighted his mother.
‘It is the most wonderful surprise,’ he said. ‘My very first thought when I received the news was how proud my mother would be.’
TV and radio personality Mr Parsons, 90, who hosts Just A Minute on Radio 4, said he was ‘flattered and delighted’ to learn he will be awarded a CBE for his charitable work.
He said: ‘Honours are a wonderful thing to receive if you have worked hard and that is recognised. I don’t understand these people who are pompous and say they don’t want it.’
Away from the world of showbusiness, two of Margaret Thatcher’s long-serving aides will be knighted for their support before the former prime minister’s death: her private secretary Mark Worthington and the director of her private office Julian Seymour.
In the arts, composer and conductor Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who is master of the Queen’s Music, is to become a Companion of Honour.
The Order of Merit was awarded to conductor Sir Simon Rattle as well as to heart surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub.
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