Celebrities draw attention on 2008 UK New Year Honours list
{{date|December 29, 2007}}
{{QuoteRight|I am almost as surprised as I am honoured. I feel deeply touched to be acknowledged by the UK, my adopted home, in this way.|4=Kylie Minogue in reaction to her OBE.}}
{{missing image|Image:KylieShowgirl.jpg|right|thumb|Kylie Minogue.}}
In an annual tradition, [[Queen Elizabeth II]] gave out honours in the 2008 [[U.K.]] New Year Honours list today. Chat show host {{w|Michael Parkinson}} is to be {{w|knighthood|knighted}}, [[Australia]]n singer {{w|Kylie Minogue}} was made a member of the Order of the British Empire (for services to music), and actor {{w|Ian McKellen}} (who played {{w|Gandalf}} in the {{w|Lord of the Rings film trilogy|Lord of the Rings}} trilogy) joined the exclusive {{w|Order of the Companions of Honour}}, which is limited to only 65 members.

Knighthood was awarded to professor {{w|Ian Wilmut}}, who led the team that {{w|cloning|cloned}} {{w|Dolly the sheep}}. The list also includes honours for those involved in flood rescue work during 2007 such as {{w|Salvation Army}} Captain Tracey Palmer (who was made a {{w|Member of the British Empire}}, MBE) and Leslie Adams from York. Tom Kelly, who was an official spokesperson for Tony Blair, entered the {{w|Order of the Bath}}.

599 of the 972 awards this year went to ordinary members of the public, who mostly received MBE's.

The honours are awarded by the Queen after advice from the Prime Minister, [[Gordon Brown]]. It is published in the {{w|London Gazette}}, an official publication of the monarchy.

Other recipients of honours include:
* {{w|Jacqueline Wilson}}, Children's authour
* {{w|Brian Ashton (rugby player)|Brian Ashton}}, England Rugby coach
* {{w|Jasper Conran}}, Designer
* Karen Millen, Designer
* {{w|Steve Furber}}, Industrial designer 
* {{w|Des Lynam}}, TV Sports presenter
* {{w|George Alagiah}}, Journalist
* {{w|Julie Walters}}, Actress 
* {{w|Richard Griffiths}}, Actor
* {{w|Leslie Phillips}}
* {{w|Nicholas Kenyon}}, BBC proms organiser
* {{w|Brendan Foster}}, Athlete
* {{w|John Higgins}}, Snooker champion
* Andy Trotter 
* Nuala O'Loan 

As in past years the honours list has included honours for those involved in charity work,
education and social activisim, such as :

* Marjorie Wallace, 
* Michele Elliott
* Alasdair Macdonald, Headmaster
* Professor Sir Timothy O'Shea, Vice Chancellor of Edinburgh university.

{{haveyoursay}}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/29/nhons129.xml
|title=Kylie awarded OBE in New Year Honours list
|author=Caroline Gammell
|pub=The Telegraph
|date=December 30, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article3293900.ece
|title=New Year Honours: Gongs for the people? Yes, but the big ones go to stars like Parky
|author=Cole Moreton
|pub=The Independent On Sunday
|date=December 30, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7163660.stm
|title=Parkinson and Minogue top honours
|author=
|pub=BBC News
|date=December 29, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/29/kylie.royal/
|title=Kylie honored by Britain's Queen
|author=
|pub=CNN
|date=December 29, 2007}}

==External links==
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/29_12_07_hons_queen.pdf Full list] - hosted by BBC News.

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[[Category:Culture and entertainment]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Society]]
[[Category:Queen Elizabeth II]]
[[Category:University of Edinburgh]]
In an annual tradition, Queen Elizabeth II gave out honours in the 2008 U.K. New Year Honours list today. Chat show host knighthood|knighted, Australian singer Ian McKellen (who played Lord of the Rings film trilogy|Lord of the Rings trilogy) joined the exclusive , which is limited to only 65 members.

Knighthood was awarded to professor cloning|cloned Salvation Army Captain Tracey Palmer (who was made a Order of the Bath.

599 of the 972 awards this year went to ordinary members of the public, who mostly received MBE's.

The honours are awarded by the Queen after advice from the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. It is published in the , an official publication of the monarchy.

Other recipients of honours include:
* , Children's authour
* Brian Ashton, England Rugby coach
* , Designer
* Karen Millen, Designer
* , Industrial designer 
* , TV Sports presenter
* , Journalist
* , Actress 
* , Actor
* 
* , BBC proms organiser
* , Athlete
* , Snooker champion
* Andy Trotter 
* Nuala O'Loan 

As in past years the honours list has included honours for those involved in charity work,
education and social activisim, such as :

* Marjorie Wallace, 
* Michele Elliott
* Alasdair Macdonald, Headmaster
* Professor Sir Timothy O'Shea, Vice Chancellor of Edinburgh university.
Culture and entertainment United Kingdom Society Queen Elizabeth II University of Edinburgh