Actors Nigel Hawthorne and Roger Moore lead the stars of entertainment in the New Year's Honours List.

The former Yes, Minister star is knighted for his services to acting, while the former James Bond becomes a CBE in recognition of his charitable work on behalf of the children's charity Unicef.

Roger Moore: Honoured for his work with Unicef

Maureen Lipman - currently starring in the West End production of Oklahoma! - is also made a CBE, marking three decades on stage, screen and television.

Singers Tom Jones and Dusty Springfield receive OBEs for their services to music, as does David Essex, commended for his charitable work with Voluntary Service Overseas.

David Essex on his close links with VSO

One of the decade's most prominent actors Robert Carlyle is awarded an OBE, along with Four Weddings And A Funeral producer Duncan Kenworthy.

Comedian Lenny Henry receives a CBE, which also recognises his charity work for Comic Relief.

Playwright Ronald Harwood - who wrote The Dresser and Poison Pen, each starring Tom Courtenay - receives a CBE.

Maureen Lipman: Awarded the CBE

The woman behind comedy hits Whose Line Is It Anyway? and Have I Got News For You - Hat Trick Productions' managing director Denise O'Donoghue - is given an OBE, while commercial radio's longest-serving broadcaster, Douglas Cameron of London talk station LBC, receives an MBE.

There is also a CBE for Ron Neil, former chief exectutive of BBC Production.

Nigel Hawthorne, 69, becomes a knight nearly two decades after he became a household name playing one, as Sir Humphrey Appleby in the BBC's political comedy Yes, Minister. He was awarded a CBE in 1987.

Robert Carlyle: One of the decade's most prominent actors

In the 1990s his stage work earned him acclaim in both London and New York, and in 1995 he received an Oscar nomination for playing the lead role in The Madness of King George.

Roger Moore, 71, joins Vanessa Redgrave, Peter Ustinov and Lord Attenborough as Unicef ambassadors who have been recognised in the Honours List for their efforts.

Unicef UK chief executive Robert Smith said: "We are delighted that Roger joins this line of goodwill ambassadors who have received this honour from Her Majesty The Queen."

Roger Moore - who has worked with Unicef since 1991 - has been an actor for more than 50 years, found fame in 1962 when he starred in TV show The Saint.

He then starred in The Persuaders, before first becoming James Bond in 1973 in Live And Let Die, a role he played seven times.

Young star

At 37, Robert Carlyle is one of the list's younger names, yet his ability to play a wide range of roles has put him at the forefront of British acting.

His biggest film role was as a stripper in The Full Monty, but he also delighted critics and fans as the violent yob Begbie in Trainspotting, and as the docile policeman Hamish Macbeth in the BBC One series.

Maureen Lipman had her first big TV break in the 1970s sitcom Agony and she later endeared herelf to the British public as neurotic Jewish housewife Beattie in 35 BT adverts.

In the past five years she has suffered two serious health scares. In 1994 she had a non-cancerous tumour removed from her spinal cord, and last year she had a second operation on a spinal tumour.

This year she returned to the stage, winning rave reviews for her performance as Aunt Eller in Oklahoma! at the National Theatre.

Lenny Henry said his delight at receiving a CBE was tempered with sadness as he wished his mother had survived to celebrate it with him.

In 1991 the comedian, who has had his own show since 1984, set up Crucial Productions which has produced documentaries and dramas including BBC One's Chef!

He has just completed filming The Man, co-starring Adrian Edmondson, in which he plays a singing travel agent.