SATURDAY KNIGHT FEVER
Bee Gee Barry & Ringo are Sirs, Darcey is a Dame PM gives gong to Tory who keeps her in power
BEE Gee Barry Gibb has been made a Sir in the New Year Honours.
The singer, 71, dedicated his award to his dead brothers, Robin and Maurice. Ringo Starr is knighted and Strictly’s Darcey Bussell is made a Dame. But Theresa May rewards her political allies – including a Tory MP who holds power over her future.
LAST surviving Bee Gee Barry Gibb dedicated his knighthood to his dead brothers last night.
The 71-year-old frontman tops a list of more than 1,000 celebrities, public servants and everyday heroes recognised in the New Year Honours by the Queen.
The “humbled and proud” star paid a touching tribute to his brothers and bandmates Maurice and Robin – saying they deserved his knighthood.
Maurice died aged 53 in 2003 and Robin in 2012 aged 62.
He added: “I want to acknowledge how responsible my brothers are for this honour. It is as much theirs as it is mine. The magic, the glow, and the rush will last me the rest of my life.”
Liverpool’s Cavern Club will also be celebrating as Beatle Ringo Starr is knighted – 52 years after his MBE and 20 years after bandmate Paul McCartney became a Sir.
The 77-year-old drummer, who Sir Paul famously urged the Queen to honour, said it was a “pleasure” to be recognised for his music and charity work telling fans: “Peace and love.”
The pop star pair lead a troupe of music, stage and TV stars in today’s honours. Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell said she was “truly humbled” by her damehood.
She added: “Dance is such a beautiful art form.
“It is inspiring and provides joy, social cohesion and wellbeing.”
The 48-year-old, who was the youngest-ever principal at the Royal Ballet aged just 20, said she would accept the gong on behalf of dance groups everywhere.
This Morning host and “King of Breakfast TV” Eamonn Holmes joked his OBE was “like getting a gold star for your homework”.
HORSE
The delighted 58-year-old said his wife Ruth “was even more thrilled than I was” as he said: “I did it on my own merits and worked very hard.”
Former children’s laureate Michael Morpurgo joked he would give his knighthood to Joey – the animal star of his smash hit story War Horse.
The 74-year-old said: “There was never a knight that has owed so much to his horse as this one - and in fact, we will give the knighthood to Joey and call him Sir Joey.”
Broadcaster Melvyn Bragg and historian Antonia Fraser have both been made Companions of Honour – just 65 of which exist. Romance novelist Jilly Cooper is made a CBE while Helen Sharman, who became Britain’s first astronaut in 1991, has been made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.
Miss Marple star Julia McKenzie and comic veteran Hugh Laurie are made CBEs, while Game of Thrones star James Cosmo is made an MBE.
An MBE also goes to the “Godfather of Grime” Wiley, real name Richard Cowie, who is honoured for services to music.
The 38-year-old underground scene pioneer, whose dad used his East London bedroom to rehearse when he was still in nappies, said: “I’m honoured. It feels like the school grade I wanted and didn’t get but now I’m finally there.”
In total 1,123 people are celebrated in the latest honours – 49% of them women – 100 years after the tradition began under King George V. Officials focused on the organisers of Black History Month and the Hay literary festival, both in their 30th year.
And a string of police and emergency workers are honoured after a