Darcey, the dancing Dame
DARCEY BUSSELL has said she is “truly humbled” to become a Dame for services to dance.
The ballerina-turned-strictly Come
Dancing judge, 48, received her honour more than 10 years after her CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and more than 20 years after her first accolade of an OBE in 1995.
She studied at the Royal Ballet School from age 13 and went on to become the then youngest-ever principal at the Royal Ballet in 1989 aged just 20.
She said: “I am truly humbled to receive this honour. I gratefully accept it on behalf of all the dance organisations that I am so fortunate to be part of.
“Dance is such a beautiful art form. It is inspiring and provides joy, social cohesion and well-being.”
Ringo Starr, Barry Gibb and Michael Morpurgo, the author, have received knighthoods. The Beatles drummer, real name Richard Starkey, 77, said it was “an honour and a pleasure” to receive his award for services to music 52 years after bring made an MBE with the Fab Four.
The Bee Gees co-founder, 71, who is recognised for his services to music and charity, dedicated the honour to his late brothers and paid a poignant tribute to his former bandmates.
He said: “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.”
Sir Michael, 74, said he would “give” his knighthood to Joey, the equine character from War Horse, his acclaimed 1982 story. “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,” he said.
Jilly Cooper, the author and journalist, was recognised for services to literature and charity by having her OBE upgraded to a CBE. She told The Daily Telegraph: “Commander is such a lovely word. I feel like a naval officer. I am very, very pleased. One shouldn’t be so thrilled, but I am. It’s an honour.”
Hugh Laurie, 58, the House actor, Alexandra Shulman, 60, the former editor of British Vogue and Rick Stein, 70, the TV chef, were also made CBES.
Also among the 1,123 honoured in this year’s list was Marc Almond, the Eighties star and self-described “maverick”, who receives an OBE for services to arts and culture.
The 60-year-old, who had hits including Tainted Love as one half of electric duo Soft Cell, said he was “totally excited” to be recognised.
Eamonn Holmes, 58, the breakfast TV veteran, who is also awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting, said it was a “wonderful accolade”.
He said: “The year 2018 will be my 38th as a broadcaster and I can’t think of a better way of marking that.”
Lord Bragg of Wigton and Lady Antonia Fraser were both made Companions of Honour.
‘I gratefully accept [this honour] on behalf of all the dance organisations I am so fortunate to be part of ’