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Queen's birthday honours: Baldrick beats Blackadder to knighthood Queen's birthday honours: Baldrick beats Blackadder to knighthood
(4 months later)
Maybe it was a cunning plan. Tony Robinson, the actor who starred as Blackadder's dogsbody, Baldrick, has been handed a knighthood in the Queen's birthday honours, trumping Rowan Atkinson, who played his rotten boss in the long-running comedy, who receives a CBE.Maybe it was a cunning plan. Tony Robinson, the actor who starred as Blackadder's dogsbody, Baldrick, has been handed a knighthood in the Queen's birthday honours, trumping Rowan Atkinson, who played his rotten boss in the long-running comedy, who receives a CBE.
Robinson, whose knighthood was awarded for public and political service rather then entertainment, said he was "thrilled, flattered and a little gobsmacked" at the award. The former Time Team presenter added: "I'll use my new title with abandon to highlight the causes I believe in: the importance of culture, the arts and heritage in our society, and the plight of the infirm elderly and their carers. I also pledge that I'll slaughter all unruly dragons, and rescue any damsels in distress who request my help."Robinson, whose knighthood was awarded for public and political service rather then entertainment, said he was "thrilled, flattered and a little gobsmacked" at the award. The former Time Team presenter added: "I'll use my new title with abandon to highlight the causes I believe in: the importance of culture, the arts and heritage in our society, and the plight of the infirm elderly and their carers. I also pledge that I'll slaughter all unruly dragons, and rescue any damsels in distress who request my help."
Following the glitz and euphoria of the post-Olympic new year honours, the Queen's birthday gongs are something of a return to normal service, albeit with belated recognition for some of the 2012 supporting cast: Clare Balding, the face of much of the Olympic and Paralympic TV coverage; Atkinson, who reprised his Mr Bean character for the opening ceremony; and the artist Anish Kapoor, designer of the Olympic park's Orbit observation platform.Following the glitz and euphoria of the post-Olympic new year honours, the Queen's birthday gongs are something of a return to normal service, albeit with belated recognition for some of the 2012 supporting cast: Clare Balding, the face of much of the Olympic and Paralympic TV coverage; Atkinson, who reprised his Mr Bean character for the opening ceremony; and the artist Anish Kapoor, designer of the Olympic park's Orbit observation platform.
Singer Adele's groaning trophy shelf must now find space for an MBE. The same gong was handed to the singer Aled Jones, comedian and presenter Rob Brydon, musician PJ Harvey and author Joanne Harris.Singer Adele's groaning trophy shelf must now find space for an MBE. The same gong was handed to the singer Aled Jones, comedian and presenter Rob Brydon, musician PJ Harvey and author Joanne Harris.
Almost three-quarters of the awards recognise local charity or community work, with the newly resurrected British Empire medal handed to Mary and Roy Hansell, who have spent 27 years running a lunch club for vulnerable older people in Norwich.Almost three-quarters of the awards recognise local charity or community work, with the newly resurrected British Empire medal handed to Mary and Roy Hansell, who have spent 27 years running a lunch club for vulnerable older people in Norwich.
There was reward for economic achievement, with knighthoods for Richard Olver, chairman of defence giant BAE Systems, his John Lewis equivalent Andrew Mayfield, Nigel Bogle, the co-founder of advertising agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty, and Brendan Barber, formerly general secretary of the TUC.There was reward for economic achievement, with knighthoods for Richard Olver, chairman of defence giant BAE Systems, his John Lewis equivalent Andrew Mayfield, Nigel Bogle, the co-founder of advertising agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty, and Brendan Barber, formerly general secretary of the TUC.
Among the science honours was a knighthood for leading geneticist Professor Mike Stratton and an OBE for Dr Stephen Myers, the Belfast physicist whose work at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland helped find the Higgs boson.Among the science honours was a knighthood for leading geneticist Professor Mike Stratton and an OBE for Dr Stephen Myers, the Belfast physicist whose work at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland helped find the Higgs boson.
And of course it would not be an honours list without a smattering of titles for politicians and senior police: Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader, is made a Companion of Honour, while MPs Edward Leigh and Andrew Stunell become knights. Scotland's most senior policeman, Stephen House, gets the same award, while Sue Akers, the Scotland Yard deputy assistant commissioner who led the phone hacking inquiry, gets a CBE.And of course it would not be an honours list without a smattering of titles for politicians and senior police: Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader, is made a Companion of Honour, while MPs Edward Leigh and Andrew Stunell become knights. Scotland's most senior policeman, Stephen House, gets the same award, while Sue Akers, the Scotland Yard deputy assistant commissioner who led the phone hacking inquiry, gets a CBE.
Balding said she was thrilled at her OBE: "It has been a year of unexpected delights. This is the pinnacle." Among the remaining Olympic gongs were CBEs for Thomas Heatherwick, who designed the distinctive London 2012 cauldron, and Christopher Allison, who led security efforts at the Games.Balding said she was thrilled at her OBE: "It has been a year of unexpected delights. This is the pinnacle." Among the remaining Olympic gongs were CBEs for Thomas Heatherwick, who designed the distinctive London 2012 cauldron, and Christopher Allison, who led security efforts at the Games.
Other showbiz awards included CBEs for the veteran cinematographer, Roger Deakins, who has clocked up 10 unsuccessful Oscar nominations, mainly with the Coen brothers, actor Julian Glover, director Michael Attenborough, and actress Claire Bloom.Other showbiz awards included CBEs for the veteran cinematographer, Roger Deakins, who has clocked up 10 unsuccessful Oscar nominations, mainly with the Coen brothers, actor Julian Glover, director Michael Attenborough, and actress Claire Bloom.
In the arts, ceramicist Grayson Perry was also made a CBE, while Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota became a Companion of Honour.In the arts, ceramicist Grayson Perry was also made a CBE, while Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota became a Companion of Honour.
Of the 1,180 awards, just under half went to women. There were damehoods for Nicky Cullum, professor of nursing at the University of Manchester, and for Hermione Lee, the president of Wolfson College at Oxford University.Of the 1,180 awards, just under half went to women. There were damehoods for Nicky Cullum, professor of nursing at the University of Manchester, and for Hermione Lee, the president of Wolfson College at Oxford University.
Almost one in 10 of the gongs overall were connected to education, with the by now customary headteachers' knighthood going to Greg Martin from the Durand Academy in south London.Almost one in 10 of the gongs overall were connected to education, with the by now customary headteachers' knighthood going to Greg Martin from the Durand Academy in south London.
Scientific knighthoodsScientific knighthoods
The honours recognise pivotal figures in two of the more momentous scientific advances of recent years: the mapping of the human genome and the discovery of the elusive Higgs boson.The honours recognise pivotal figures in two of the more momentous scientific advances of recent years: the mapping of the human genome and the discovery of the elusive Higgs boson.
Professor Mike Stratton, who is knighted, heads the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, which played a major role in the human genome project, the decades-long international effort to identify and map human DNA.Professor Mike Stratton, who is knighted, heads the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, which played a major role in the human genome project, the decades-long international effort to identify and map human DNA.
He is also an expert on genetic causes of cancer, and has played leading roles in identifying genes linked to breast and skin cancers. Stratton said he was "thrilled and surprised", adding that the honour also marked the efforts of many his colleagues.He is also an expert on genetic causes of cancer, and has played leading roles in identifying genes linked to breast and skin cancers. Stratton said he was "thrilled and surprised", adding that the honour also marked the efforts of many his colleagues.
Professor Peter Higgs, who gave his name to the Higgs boson, became a Companion of Honour in the new year. But the physicist, who led a team of 2,000 researchers on the Large Hadron Collider to prove that Higgs's particle existed, has been handed an OBE this time around.Professor Peter Higgs, who gave his name to the Higgs boson, became a Companion of Honour in the new year. But the physicist, who led a team of 2,000 researchers on the Large Hadron Collider to prove that Higgs's particle existed, has been handed an OBE this time around.
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