Call me Lancelot, says Sir Billy

JK Rowling, Sir Paul Mccartney, Delia Smith and Sir Terence Conran are among the celebrities elevated to the Order of Companion of Honour.

Julie Walters and June Whitfield are to become dames, while Billy Connolly is made a knight, admitting he is “very pleased”.

“I feel like I should be called Lancelot or something,” he said. “Sir Lancelot, that would be nice. Sir Billy doesn’t quite have the same ring.”

June Spencer, who plays Peggy Woolley in The Archers and is the only member of the Radio 4 soap’s original cast, has been awarded a CBE along with author Raymond Briggs. Judy Murray, Gloria Hunniford, Sarah Lancashire and Patricia Hodge will each receive OBES, while Ed Sheeran picks up an MBE.