Tom Jones leads New Year Honours

[OMEN]

Tom Jones has worked in the music industry for more than 40 years
Tom Jones has been made a knight in the New Year Honours list, leading a host of names from the entertainment world.

The 65-year-old, whose hits include Delilah and It's Not Unusual, has been honoured for services to music.

Playwright Arnold Wesker and jazz musician John Dankworth are also knighted, while former BBC Radio head Liz Forgan is made a Dame.

TV star Bruce Forsyth, 77, is made a CBE, and actors Imelda Staunton, Robbie Coltrane and Sanjeev Bhaskar OBEs.


Bruce Forsyth
Broadcaster and former Newsnight presenter Peter Snow becomes a CBE along with sculptor Rachel Whiteread, while the OBE roll-call includes writer Jeanette Winterson and television chef Gordon Ramsay.

MBEs go to Coronation Street actor Roy Barraclough, singer/songwriter Eddi Reader and 1950s singing trio the Beverley Sisters - Babette, Joy and Teddie.

Jones, from Pontypridd in Wales, is one of the most famous pop singers of the past four decades.

He began his musical career in 1963 as vocalist in the group Tommy Scott And The Senators and has gone on to sell millions of records around the world.

Dankworth, whose career in jazz spans more than 50 years, is also honoured for his services to music.


Sanjeev Bhaskar
The performer, composer and conductor has also served as musical director for such greats as Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Sophie Tucker and many others.

Forsyth, who recently presented the BBC's Saturday-night hit show Strictly Come Dancing, said he was "quick-stepping with delight" at his CBE for services to entertainment.

The veteran entertainer, who rose to fame presenting games shows like The Price is Right and Play Your Cards Right, made a comeback on Have I Got News For You in 2003.

He said: "I'm very happy to receive the CBE. I'm delighted and I can put this all down to having done Have I Got News for You.

"It proved to everybody that I'm still a performer and still reasonably funny.


Imelda Staunton


"I wish I could wear it [the CBE] when I'll be with all my family to see in the New Year. It will be a double celebration because a couple of months ago I was made a great-grandfather."

Staunton's OBE follows a hugely successful year for the actress, who won a Bafta for her role as Vera Drake in Mike Leigh's Oscar-nominated film in February.

Coltrane, who stars as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films and played Eddie "Fitz" Fitzgerald, in the TV drama hit Cracker, said he was "absolutely delighted" to be honoured for his services to drama.

Actor and writer Bhaskar first came to public attention when he starred in the BBC ensemble comedy sketch show Goodness Gracious Me, which ran to three series on radio and TV.


Beverley Sisters


He followed it up with The Kumars at No 42, in which he plays the role of Sanjeev Kumar, who tries to host and broadcast a chat show from his parents' living room.

The Beverley Sisters, who were the first UK female group to break into the US top 10 charts, are all appointed MBEs.

They were best known for close-harmony hits like Sisters, I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus and Drummer Boy.

Barraclough, who has had numerous stints in Coronation Street, becomes an MBE. He is also well-known for his Cissie and Ada double act with the late Les Dawson.

bbc.com

[King Venomation - X]

Im glad Tom Jones got one, he has worked really hard. Howeve, I'm not so sure about Bruce and Gordon Ramsy, I mean they haven't really done much to deserve one, but still congrats to Tom Jones.