O'Grady & Warrington also honoured

Victoria Wood has been awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

The honour follows the OBE she received in 1997 in recognition of her success as a writer and actress with shows such as Acorn Antiques and Dinnerladies.

She has latterly moved away from comedy towards drama, and her new, upgraded honour was for services to British entertainment.

Meanwhile, Lily Savage comic turned daytime TV host Paul O’Grady is honoured with an MBE.

O’Grady, who celebrated his 53rd birthday yesterday, said: ‘It’s a very nice birthday present. I’m really surprised – I’m the last person I’d have thought would be given an MBE.’

He said the last time he met the Queen, ‘I was blowing a trumpet with my head between my legs at the Royal Variety. She was very nice.’

Former Rising Damp star Don Warrington also becomes a CBE. More recently he appeared in the black sitcom The Crouches and the dramas Holby City and Manchild.

Other showbiz names on the list include Des O’Connor, who receives a CBE, and EastEnders actress June Brown, who gets an MBE.

Published: 14 Jun 2008