Actors, comedians, sportsmen feature in Queen’s Honours list

Rory McIlroy, who this year became the youngest US Open golf champion for 88 years at the age of 22, said yesterday he felt humbled to stand among the “worthy recipients” of the UK’s New Year Honours as he was made an MBE.

Mr McIlroy is recognised alongside fellow Ulster golfer Darren Clarke and property tycoon Gerald Ronson, who bounced back after being jailed for his part in the Guinness Four share scam.

Veteran funnyman Ronnie Corbett received a CBE, topping a string of stars honoured for their contributions to the entertainment, media and sporting worlds. These include TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, actress Helena Bonham Carter and Sky News correspondent Alex Crawford, who won acclaim for her Libya reportage .

Two names in television – Peter Bazalgette of Endemol, the company behind Big Brother, and Paul Smith, of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? creator Celador – are also on the list, which sees Apple’s Jonathan Ive, 44, credited with designing the iPhone, iPod and iPad, made a Knight Commander, Order of the British Empire (KBE).

Mr Ronson, 72, the man who brought self-service petrol stations to the UK in 1960s and built Heron Tower, the tallest structure in the City of London, gets a CBE for services to charity. London-born designer Mr Ive, who is also credited with bringing the iMac to the masses, has received numerous design awards over the years and is senior vice president of industrial design at Apple.

Many of this year’s accolades – which come as Britain gears up for the Olympic Games – go to sporting figures.

Mr McIlroy, from Holywood, Co Down, celebrated his latest achievement on holiday.

“I am delighted to be named in the Queen’s New Year Honours List. It is quite humbling to be included in such a list of worthy recipients,” he said.

The player enjoyed a whirlwind rise to the pinnacle of golf this year and teamed up with his girlfriend, world tennis number one Caroline Wozniacki, to form sport’s latest golden couple.

Retired international umpire Harold “Dickie” Bird, 78, of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, gets an OBE for services to cricket and charity.

Though former Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell, 58, may be more famous for his motoring feats, the president of the charity UK Youth, now based in Jersey, gets a CBE for services to children and young people.