Stars take honours bow

Singer Sade is made an OBE

Actor Ben Kingsley, film director Alan Parker and broadcaster Jimmy Young are among the celebrities to receive honours this New Year.

Kingsley's knighthood for services to drama ends a memorable year for the actor.

Alan Parker: Has promoted the UK film industry

He was brought back into the limelight with UK film Sexy Beast, 20 years after his title role in Sir Richard Attenborough's film Gandhi won him an Oscar.

Alan Parker, director of such films as Bugsy Malone, Fame, Midnight Express and Angela's Ashes, receives his knighthood for services to the British film industry.

But he said he would still rather be called "guv'nor" than Sir.

Jimmy Young: Said he shares his honour with his listeners

"Not many people are going to call me that [Sir], I hope," he said.

Veteran radio chat show host Jimmy Young, who becomes Sir Jimmy, kept news of his knighthood a secret for a month.

The delighted 80-year-old said: "I'm deeply honoured and I am indeed most grateful.

"This is an enormous honour and one that I share with five million listeners."

Disco kings the Bee Gees are also celebrating after being made CBEs.

The Bee Gees: 'Speechless'

The Isle of Man-born brothers, Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb, famous for their high voices and global hits, were shocked but delighted.

"It's indescribable, it really is, I'm speechless, and Barry and Robin are the same," Maurice Gibb said.

"This is the first time I've had phone calls with them when they haven't said anything. They're just taking a deep breath, going 'Is it true?'"

Among the other singers honoured was Lesley Garrett, one of the UK's leading opera stars, who was made a CBE.

Lesley Garrett is acclaimed for her strong stage presence and agile voice

The diva from Doncaster, who has successfully crossed over into mainstream stardom, said she was "overwhelmed" at the award.

"It's something I never dreamed in my wildest imagination would ever happen to me and it's wonderful, and I'm thrilled," she said.

She is acclaimed for her strong stage presence and agile voice, and her ability to slot into serious and comic productions, while she has won new fans by hosting TV specials.

Also made a CBE is author Penelope Lively, who has written prolifically for adults and children for 30 years, and is noted as a commentator on 20th century UK society.

Miriam Margolyes: Character actress and voice artist

Other celebrities cracking open the champagne include actors Lynn Redgrave (OBE), Denis Quilley (OBE) and Miriam Margolyes (OBE).

Redgrave, one of the famous acting dynasty, had an Oscar nomination for Gods and Monsters in 1998, and won a Golden Globe Award in 1966 for her performance in the title role of Georgy Girl.

Margolyes, 60, has used her distinctive voice to excel in a wide range of eccentric comedy roles from children's programmes to Hollywood blockbusters.

The wide variety of singers who were singled out is a small reflection of the huge breadth of the honours list.

Daniel O'Donnell: Clean-cut Irish superstar

Among them are soul singer Sade, stage diva Barbara Dickson, and Irish crooner Daniel O'Donnell, who was awarded an honorary MBE for his decades of work in the music industry.

Sade, known for songs like Your Love is King and Smooth Operator, has been made a OBE for services to popular music.

The singer has sold more than 30 million records over three decades.

Daniel O'Donnell has never taken the UK singles charts by storm but has quietly shifted millions of albums and videos to his devoted fans around the world.

Scottish singer and actress Barbara Dickson (OBE) had a string of hit singles and albums during the 70s and early 80s, including Another Suitcase In Another Hall and January February.