BRUCE FORSYTH is to be knighted by Queen Elizabeth. He is one of hundreds included in the Queen’s birthday honours list published at midnight last night.
Also to be honoured are actor Colin Firth, rock singer Bryan Ferry, BBC radio presenter Jenni Murray, actors Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden and Bernard Cribbens and golfer Lee Westwood.
According to a separate honours list issued in Belfast, Peter Gregson, vice-chancellor at Queen’s University, Belfast, is to receive a knighthood, while veteran Ballymena entrepreneur William Wright is to be honoured with a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire).
Sir Bruce (83), as he will be known, is honoured for a lifetime in entertainment in which he has worked as a TV presenter, game show host, singer-songwriter, pianist and dancer.
Jenni Murray, presenter of Radio 4's Woman's Hour, is to be made a dame, and there are awards also for Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, and for Gus O'Donnell, former British cabinet secretary and head of the Home Civil Service.
There are CBEs for The King's Speechstar Colin Firth, and Bryan Ferry (65), rock band Roxy Music's front man, who has also pursued a solo career.
Actor Bernard Cribbens and comedians Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, famous for their roles in the hit TV series The Goodiesare also honoured.
Bob Harris, known to his many fans as Whisperin' Bob from his days on BBC Radio 1 and on the BBC2 music series The Old Grey Whistle Test, receives an OBE.
There are also OBEs for jazz singer Claire Martin and England cricket captain Andrew Strauss. Former world number 1 golfer and member of last year’s winning Ryder Cup team Lee Westwood is also honoured with an OBE (Order of the British Empire). So, too, is Jenny Shalina-Wynne who was instrumental in the successful visit to England of Pope Benedict last year.
Kate Atkinson, the Whitbread Prize-winning author, receives an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) and former Conservative leader Lord (Michael) Howard is made a Companion of Honour.
In Northern Ireland, Peter Gregson is to be knighted for services to higher education and for his leadership at Queen’s, now a member of the prestigious Russell Group universities.
William Wright, who already has an OBE, wins the higher CBE award in recognition of his service to the bus industry and for his work at the successful Wrightbus company based in Co Antrim.
Some 53 Northerners appear on the honours list.