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| Michael Billington and Philip French receive OBEs in New Year honours | Michael Billington and Philip French receive OBEs in New Year honours |
| (8 days later) | |
| The Guardian's theatre critic, Michael Billington, and the Observer's film critic, Philip French, receive OBEs in the New Years honours list for services to theatre and film respectively. | The Guardian's theatre critic, Michael Billington, and the Observer's film critic, Philip French, receive OBEs in the New Years honours list for services to theatre and film respectively. |
| Billington, the Guardian's theatre critic since 1971 and author of several books including a biography of Harold Pinter and State of the Nation: British Theatre since 1945, said: "I'm thrilled, delighted and surprised." | Billington, the Guardian's theatre critic since 1971 and author of several books including a biography of Harold Pinter and State of the Nation: British Theatre since 1945, said: "I'm thrilled, delighted and surprised." |
| The longest-serving member of the Critics' Circle, he added: "I'm glad for the Guardian. Also, it is the 100th anniversary of the Critics' Circle this year, so I believe it is recognition not of me but of the need for critics and the continuity of criticism." | The longest-serving member of the Critics' Circle, he added: "I'm glad for the Guardian. Also, it is the 100th anniversary of the Critics' Circle this year, so I believe it is recognition not of me but of the need for critics and the continuity of criticism." |
| French, film critic for the Observer for 50 years, said he was "genuinely surprised" and described it as "a very considerable honour". | French, film critic for the Observer for 50 years, said he was "genuinely surprised" and described it as "a very considerable honour". |
| In his distinguished career French has also received a lifetime honorary membership of Bafta and a lifetime achievement award from the film Critics' Circle. He is one of only three British film critics to have sat on the jury of the Cannes film festival. | In his distinguished career French has also received a lifetime honorary membership of Bafta and a lifetime achievement award from the film Critics' Circle. He is one of only three British film critics to have sat on the jury of the Cannes film festival. |
| It is fitting that both are honoured on the same day, as they have been friends since French, then a BBC Radio 3 producer, hired Billington as a reviewer in 1965. The recruit's first task? To review two plays by a then unknown writer, Tom Stoppard. | It is fitting that both are honoured on the same day, as they have been friends since French, then a BBC Radio 3 producer, hired Billington as a reviewer in 1965. The recruit's first task? To review two plays by a then unknown writer, Tom Stoppard. |
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