Knight to see you! At long last, it's Sir Bruce as Forsyth heads the Birthday Honours.(News)

Byline: Michael Seamark

IT'S been a long time coming, but the king of light entertainment Bruce Forsyth finally receives a knighthood today.

After a TV career stretching back to the Second World War - and years of campaigning by fans - the 83-yearold Strictly Come Dancing host tops the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

There have been internet petitions and even a parliamentary Early Day Motion signed by 73 MPs asking for the entertainer, who was made a CBE in 2006, to be knighted.

Taking a celebratory glass of champagne in the garden of his Surrey home, Sir Bruce said he was 'pleased and very proud' to be knighted by the Queen.

'I'm over the moon,' he said. 'It has really hit me how big the honour is. It makes me feel as though my life has been worthwhile. I am so grateful to the many people who have supported me over a long career and made this possible.'

Three-times-married Sir Bruce, one of Britain's best-loved TV stars whose other hits included The Generation Game and Play Your Cards Right, added: 'My wife Wilnelia is abroad at the moment but comes home tomorrow. I can't wait to go to the airport to welcome her back and call her "My Lady".'

But he admitted that when he received the letter telling him about the honour he wondered if it was a hoax. 'We were doubtful because it's been going on so long, the speculation,' he said. 'We thought it might be a hoax so we did check all the way down the line that it was real.'

BBC1 controller Danny Cohen led the congratulations, saying: 'Bruce Forsyth is a TV legend and a true gentleman. He is an incredible entertainer and this is a wonderful recognition of his 70 years in showbusiness.'

His Strictly Come Dancing co-host Tess Daly said: 'It couldn't happen to a nicer bloke. Bruce is Britain's greatest living all-round entertainer and for 70 years (and counting) he has been making us laugh.

'Our parents, grandparents and now through Strictly, our children, all love him too. Bruce is a national treasure we should all be proud of. Does this mean I'll have to curtsy now at the start of each show?'

Joining Sir Bruce on the honours list is actor Colin Firth, awarded a CBE only months after collecting an Oscar for playing the Queen's father George VI in The King's Speech.

A CBE also goes to Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry, who called it a 'great honour'.

Former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, 27, gets an MBE for her tireless campaign against knife crime, prompted by the murder of her 16-year-old brother Ben in 2008 which shocked the nation.

The IVF pioneer Professor Robert Edwards, 85, is knighted eight months after being awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine for his work that led to the birth in 1978 of Louise Brown, the world's first test-tube baby.

There is also a knighthood for the former Ofsted chief inspector Chris Woodhead, whose outspoken style provoked fierce clashes with teaching unions.

Former Tory leader Michael Howard, 69, who was ennobled last year as Lord Howard of Lympne in Kent, is made a Companion of Honour for public and political services.

Glasgow-based author Julia Donaldson, 62, best known for The Gruffalo, caps a week in which she was appointed the Children's Laureate by being awarded an MBE.

Emma Freud, 49, gets an OBE for her work on Comic Relief with her partner, film-maker Richard Curtis. Media lawyer Mark Stephens, 54, whose clients include WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, is awarded a CBE.

'Horse whisperer' Monty Roberts is also honoured. The American trainer is made an honorary Member of the Royal Victorian Order - given by the Queen to people who have served her or the monarchy in a personal way.

A total of 965 people are awarded honours in the list, of whom 74 per cent are 'local heroes' who have carried out unsung work in their communities.

They include James Alexander of Fochabers, Moray, who gets a CBE for services to traditional music, and Ann Baxter, awarded a CBE for her work with the Girl Guides in Stirlingshire.

Arran resident Margaret Mackenzie also receives a CBE for her work in the island community.

DAME JENNI'S PROUDEST HOUR

ENTERTAINMENT

WOMAN'S Hour presenter JENNI MURRAY is made a dame. The broadcaster, 61, said her only regret was that her parents were not alive to see it.

But Barnsley-born Dame Jenni, who has hosted the Radio 4 programme for more than 20 years, said she hoped her mother would be 'looking down in delight' when she goes to the palace to collect her honour.

Dame Jenni, who overcame breast cancer, began her career in Bristol and was awarded an OBe in 1. JANeT SuzMAN, 72, is made a dame for a distinguished acting career, while an OBe goes to artist-turnedfilm-maker SAM TAYLOR-WOOD, 44.

OBes go to GrAeMe GArDeN, 68, and TiM BrOOke-TAylOr, 70, creators of the 1 70s TV series The Goodies with Bill Oddie, 6 , who received an OBE in 2003.

Actor BERNARD CRIBBINS, 82, narrator of the children's show The Wombles, also gets an OBE, as does Radio 2 DJ 'Whispering' BOB HARRIS, 65.

SPORT

ENGLAND cricket captain ANDREW STRAUSS, 34, and coach ANDY FLOWER, 43, get OBEs, and ALASTAIR COOK, 26, an MBE, for winning the Ashes in Australia for the first time in 24 years.

There are MBEs for three London 2012 Olympic hopefuls - world heptathlon champion JESSICA ENNIS, 25, world triple jump champion PHILLIPS IDOWU, 32, and Tour de France cycling star MARK CAVENDISH, 26.

OBEs go to golfer LEE WESTWOOD, 38, and former U.S. basketball star JOHN AMAECHI, 40, who grew up in Stockport and became the first openly gay NBA player in 2007.

BUSINESS AND THE CITY

A KNIGHTHOOD goes to Bank of England governor MERVYN KING, 63, while Sainsbury's chief executive JUSTIN KING, 50, is given a CBE.

There is an OBe for NiCHOlAS rOBerTSON, 43, chief executive of the successful online fashion retailer ASOS.com, and a CBe for textile designer CeliA BirTWell, 70, who with her late ex-husband Ossie Clark dressed the Beatles, Twiggy and Jimi Hendrix in the 1 60s.

The boss of one of the country's biggest energy firms, Dr PAUL GOLBY, chief executive of E.ON UK, is awarded a CBE.

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Didn't he do well? Sir Bruce celebrates Damehood: Jenni Murray