New Year's Honours List

The UK's New Year's Honours list has been published. Though I'm British myself I feel this is so outdated and in lots of cases farcical. However, these are the few from the entertainment world who received various honours plus one who didn't.

Robert Plant. The lead from Led Zeppelin, 60, was awarded the CBE*.

Michael Sheen, the actor, was given an OBE*.

Liz Smith the actress known for her part in the Royle Family received an MBE*.

John Martyn, singer, 60, landed himself an OBE.

Courtney Pine, the jazz musician, 48, got a CBE.

Terry Pratchett, author of Discworld and other books, 60, was 'flabbergasted' at being awarded a Knighthood. So he'll now be known as a 'Sir'.

And, fortunately, that's the lot. It wasn't too swamped out with 'luvvies' this year but Bruce Forsyth, the 80 year old entertainer and presenter of Strictly Come Dancing, didn't get his Knighthood. Oh dear! Petitions had been set up and all sorts of pressure brought. But you can't force the Palace! One silly newspaper said it was 'an insult to the world of entertainment' - which made me laugh.

One of the reasons as to why he didn't get anything is because he received a gong in 2005 and therefore, normally speaking, can't be nominated for anything else for five years. So he'll most probably have to wait until 2010.

Personally I don't understand why an entertainer, actor, singer and the like should get any such award for doing a job that they enjoy and get well paid for. There are deserving people who have actually done something worthwhile for the country who come far ahead of this lot.

*OBE = Order of the British Empire
*CBE = Commander of the British Empire
*MBE = Most Excellent Order of the British Empire