'I like your swords'

Armando Iannucci has picked up his OBE from Buckingham Palace.

He said the ceremony, hosted by the Prince of Wales, was ‘slightly surreal, a little bit hilarious... [but] also quite moving’.

And afterwards he tweeted: ‘Big thank you to all the staff at #BuckinghamPalace for a very nice day. I like your swords.’

He was awarded the honour for services to broadcasting on such shows as The Day Today, I'm Alan Partridge and The Thick Of It.

But he said he had just been doing his job, in contrast to other OBE recipients who had helped their community.

He added: ‘I'm happy to get awards for programmes I do and for my work, I'm not bothered by that. I've absolutely no intention of using the letters or anything like that, I just see it as a thank you or a well done.’

When the OBE was announced last year, former spin doctor Alastair Campbell sniped in a tweet: ‘So @AIannucci OBE joins the Establishment he claims to deride. Malcolm Tucker and I do not approve of honours system.’

It sparked a Twitter spat, with Iannucci hitting back: ‘It’s probably more Establishment to order your army to march into other countries for no reason. Swings and roundabouts.’

Campbell then claimed that he had turned down offers of a peerage twice, adding: ‘You see, your wit a bit tired and blunt already. Three little letters can have more impact than you realise. Tut tut.’

To which Mr Iannucci replied: ‘WMD.'

Published: 1 Feb 2013