Kylie Minogue leads honours list

Kylie Minogue

Delighted pop diva Kylie Minogue said yesterday she was "deeply touched" to have been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours list.

The Aussie singer, whose battle with breast cancer shocked the world and inspired millions of women, was recognised for her services to music, cementing her position as one of the nation's best-loved icons.

Other showbiz stars honoured include chat show veteran Michael Parkinson, TV host Des Lynam and actors Sir Ian McKellen, Leslie Phillips and Julie Walters.

Kylie, 39, was befriended by Gordon Brown at a secret dinner hosted by novelist Kathy Lette in March this year.

And the singer, who is spending the festive season with her family in Melbourne, yesterday paid tribute to the country she regards as her adopted home.

She said: "I am almost as surprised as I am honoured to be awarded an OBE by Her Majesty.

"I feel deeply touched to be acknowledged in this way."

"This last year I have felt so much love and support from everyone as I took greater steps back into the public domain, and it is with absolute gratitude and joy that I say farewell to 2007 and look forward to what the New Year will bring."

After a stint in Aussie soap Neighbours, which made her an international star, a teenage Kylie burst on to the music scene - and has since gone on to sell 60million records worldwide.

Her early career saw her join forces with Stock, Aitken and Waterman but they parted company in the 1990s and she swapped bubblegum pop for a more danceinspired sound, but could never quite repeat her earlier success.

That dip in her career all changed when the Grammy-award-winning star reinvented herself and exploded back into the charts with her fifth UK No 1 Spinning Around - and those famous gold hotpants.

Kylie, whose other big hits include I Should Be So Lucky, Can't Get You Out Of My Head and Better The Devil You Know, was forced to cancel her Showgirl tour after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 but fought back and triumphantly returned to the stage.

Her recovery recently culminated in performances on rival shows Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor.

She also starred in the Doctor Who Christmas special, which attracted almost 14 million viewers.

She is joined on the list by veteran TV star Michael Parkinson, 72, who receives a knighthood. Parky, whose chat show began in 1971, bowed out earlier this month. The telly favourite, on a sixweek holiday in Sydney, said before news of his award broke: "If it were true, it would be marvellous and I would be delighted and honoured."

He is taking a break to see his grandchildren and follow the cricket before going home to write his memoirs.

Respected commentator Des Lynam is honoured with an OBE for his services to the industry.

The veteran broadcaster has hosted TV coverage of some of sport's most high-profile events including football World Cups, the Olympics and Wimbledon.

He said: "This has been a splendid surprise and I feel truly privileged."

Des, 65, who began his career at the BBC but defected to ITV in 1999, has also anchored a series of popular sports shows including Grandstand and Match of the Day and the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown.

There are also honours for Shakespearean actor Sir Ian McKellen, 68, who played Gandalf in Lord of the Rings. He is awarded a Companion of Honour.

A cbe goes to Julie Walters, 56, who has starred in a string of blockbusters including Billy Elliot, Calendar Girls and the Harry Potter franchise.

She is probably best-known for her role as Mrs Overall in the spoof soap opera Acorn Antiques and is one of Britain's most popular actresses.

Leslie Phillips, 83, a veteran of the Carry On films, also collects a CBE. BBC news presenter and reporter George Alagiah, 52, picks up an OBE as does larger-than-life actor Richard Griffiths, 60, who made his name in the TV series Pie in the Sky.

Barbara Broccoli, who co-produced James Bond films, and created the musical stage version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is given the same gong.

There is also an MBE for Ian Anderson, the frontman of the veteran rock band Jethro Tull, and Trevor Romeo, also known as Jazzie B, of the 1980s musical collective Soul II Soul.

Award-winning children's author Jacqueline Wilson, creator of Tracy Beaker, becomes a Dame.

An OBE goes to Eric Hill, creator of the popular children's book character, Spot. And Nicholas Kenyon, music administrator of the BBC Proms from 1996 to 2007 gets a knighthood.

Pianist Stan Tracey, who has been described as "the godfather of British jazz" gets a CBE.

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