Latest news with #HonoursCommittee
Perth Now
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
'Frankly, I think those things are rather silly...' Monty Python legend John Cleese not interested in a knighthood
John Cleese would refuse a knighthood if he was offered the British honour. The Monty Python star previously turned down the offer of a CBE and a peerage and he is adamant that if the Honours Committee and King Charles selected him for the most prestigious accolade and make him "Sir John Cleese" he would say no to the title because he doesn't need, nor want, the validation. When asked if he would turn down a knighthood in the New Year's Honours List, he said: 'I would. I simply don't need that sort of validation. "It's enough for me to know - because people often tell me - that I've helped them through difficult times by making them laugh. They come home, turn on an episode of Fawlty Towers and the world doesn't seem quite so bleak. That's my reward. "Frankly, I think those things are rather silly. Cleese's fellow Monty Python troupe member Michael Palin did accept his knighthood and although he isn't interested in receiving he accolade the Fawlty Towers actor was happy for his long-time friend. In an interview with Candis magazine, Cleese said: 'Good luck to him. I was genuinely pleased. I call him Sir Mickey: that's how I always address my emails to him, He's a lovely guy.' Cleese, 85, is proud to be in an exclusive club of men who did snub a knighthood, a list which includes late rock star David Bowie and The History Boys writer Alan Bennett, 91. The comedian said: "Just look at those men who have turned down awards and titles: David Bowie, Michael Frayn, Alan Bennett and Albert Finney. I have respect for them.' Cleese admits his political beliefs are still on the left when it comes to the distribution of wealth, despite him presenting a show on right wing TV channel GB News. He said: "I'm more to the left economically. I think greed is in danger of killing everyone. "People should be paid good salaries, where possible. We should be generous, not try to save money so billionaires can get richer.' The Life of Brian actor also wishes the world would lighten up and enjoy more "good old-fashioned laughter". Cleese added: "I think we need much more laughter in the world. I'm not advocating mean teasing. Just good old-fashioned laughter. There's nothing to beat it.'
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Sir David Beckham's mother can't stop crying after knighthood announcement
Sir David Beckham has revealed his mother couldn't stop crying over his knighthood. On Friday (13.06.25), the retired football legend was named in the King's Birthday Honours ahead of an official ceremony, and he has opened up about his mother Sandra's reaction after they enjoyed a lunch at Tony's Pie and Mash in London. He wrote on Instagram: "Lunch with Mum , haven't seen her since the news... "Mum cried when she arrived , cried during lunch and cried when I was leaving x special moment for us all. "Love you mum x @sandra_beckham49 (Dads next) (sic)" Sandra admitted she felt "emotional" having people approach her son to offer their congratulations using his new title. She commented under the post: "Love you more... was emotional people saying congratulations Sir... see tears again (sic)" David is married to former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and has Brooklyn, 26, Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20, and 13-year-old Harper Seven with her. The Manchester United legend - whose wife will now be known as Lady Victoria Beckham - has been given the honour for services to sport and charity. Victoria wrote on Instagram after the news: "You've always been my knight in shining armour, but now it's official. "Sir @davidbeckham!!! What an honour, I couldn't be prouder of you. Your dedication to the things that matter most — your country, your work, your passion, and most of all, your family — has never wavered. "The way you've touched so many lives over the years with kindness and humility speaks volumes about the man you are and continues to inspire us everyday. "But above all else, I'm so, so proud to call you mine. I love you so much xxxx" In 2003, he was given an OBE by the late Queen Elizabeth for services to football. The former England captain has a long history of charitable work, which Honours Committee officials will have considered before deciding to bestow him with the honour.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Robbie Williams deserves a knighthood as much as David Beckham – his snub proves everything wrong with ‘corrupt' system
WHAT more does a man need to do, besides get down on one knee then beg and/or give the King some homemade honey? Robbie Williams co-created Soccer Aid — the most-watched thing on telly on Sunday night — and has raised more than £115million for Unicef in the process. 8 8 He is Britain's best-selling solo artist of all time, and recently embarked on a sell-out European tour, which has received five-star reviews across the board. As one fifth of Take That, he helped to redefine British pop culture and, more than two decades sober, he is also one of the nicest blokes in showbiz. Like, not a sober dullard. Much the same as David Beckham, whose much-craved knighthood was confirmed last week, Rob is a Unicef ambassador. And like David Beckham, he was caught up in the Ingenious tax avoidance scheme — meaning he was red-flagged by the Honours Committee. But unlike David, Rob hasn't had so much as an OBE, let alone a knighthood, although the pair were embroiled in the same year of Ingenious. Good causes So, why? Why has he been systematically overlooked by a nonsensical committee, which once upon a time made 'bully' Philip Green a Sir? Sure, he has spent much of the past 20 years Stateside, but Stoke-born Robbie has always had a family home over here and paid his due taxes. His parents still live in Stoke and he's a patron of the city's incredible Donna Louise Children's Hospice. He has raised money for more than 29 charities and, I'm told, quietly gives away millions to good causes without fuss or publicity. And those tax affairs — similar to which dozens of celebs were embroiled in — have long since been settled. Robbie, who perhaps hasn't played the royal honey card as well as his pal Dave, has 15 numbers one albums, more than anyone. Well, anyone besides The Beatles with whom he's tied in the album-selling stakes. Also like Goldenballs, he has a global Netflix documentary chart-topper to his name. On a football field, Robbie has an only fair-to-middling right foot on him but he does also boast a record-breaking 18 Brit awards. To be clear, both men deserve honours — and Becks' one was long overdue. But the bigger question is WHY Robbie hasn't been recognised — by an awards system that has long been seen as slightly corrupt and quite possibly biased? This, after all, was the year that Tess and Claudia were given MBEs, basically for services to Strictly. Why not, when his Take That bandmate Gary Barlow — who was caught up in an even more aggressive tax-avoidance scheme — was given an OBE in 2012 for services to entertainment and charity work? In 2017 — the year they, too, got collared — Prince's Trust ambassadors Ant and Dec were down the Palace collecting their OBEs from the then Prince Charles. Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, Britain's first celebrity tax exile, is also a Sir. Ditto, the late Sir Sean Connery, who was the Bahamas' most famous British resident. And let's not forget whippersnapper Sir Lewis Hamilton, who long ago buggered off out of Britain and, in 2017, was named in the BBC's Paradise Papers for avoiding £3.3million of VAT on his private jet. As a happily married man, and a devoted dad of four — Robbie missed Fathers' Day to drive four hours from on stage in Bath to Soccer Aid at Old Trafford — there hasn't been so much as a WHIFF of scandal about his private life. He is kind to fans, has raised awareness about mental health and gave the world Angels, as well as underrated banger Love My Life. Unlike Sir David — of whom I'm a huge fan, BTW — Robbie has never knowingly labelled the Honours Committee as ungrateful 'c****'. But he does refuse to kowtow to politicians or royals, and has never publicly asked for recognition. And therein lies the problem. Just give the man his gong. And a bee suit. ROSE N' SHINE, PEOPLE ROSÉ, the wine synonymous with summer and Jeremy Clarkson, has an official 'tipping point' as the weather warms up, found a poll conducted by Waitrose. Once temperatures hit 20C, sales apparently jump by 150 per cent. Us Brits have been blessed with an unusually wonderful start to summer – as my own 2025 rosé intake would testify. But, really, as my esteemed colleague Harry Cole swears, the pink season begins on Good Friday and ends the Sunday of the Labour conference in autumn. Cheers. HOUSE CALL MUCH discussion in the House of Commons about the possible banning of smartphones in schools. Whatever their political persuasion, most MPs agree mobile phone addiction in young people is bad. And only getting worse. So why, then, are we faced with politicians clutching their mobiles in Parliament, furtively texting and scrolling as their colleagues speak? Get your own house in order first, chaps. ADD A LITTLE SENSE 8 PUPILS need algebra rather than diversity, says a leading headteacher. Katharine Birbalsingh, famously dubbed Britain's strictest educator, is 50 per cent correct. Speaking as someone without a mathematical bone in her body – although, TBF, I was pretty solid at times tables – not once have I thought about linear equations, nor, indeed, a quadratic one, since the day I popped down my biro after my final GCSE maths paper. In this age of AI and pocket calculators – on your smartphone – traditional school subjects are starting to look increasingly outdated. What we do need, though, is the return of some common sense teaching. SHOE SIGHS NOW I'm not sure about you, but I really want our scientists undertaking some groundbreaking, revolutionary stuff that will change lives, and save lives. How refreshing to learn, then, that experts from Shandong Sport University in China have been testing a range of heel sizes on women to determine how their body movements were affected. And the results? 'The higher the heel, the more unstable the women became.' Well knock me down with a Louboutin. WANNABE POSH NOW A TRUE LADY 8 IN their 1996 breakthrough hit Wannabe, the Spice Girls sang this immortal line about Victoria Beckham: 'Easy V, she doesn't come for free; she's a real Lady.' Now, c/o Sir Dave, she really is. That, as spiritual bandmate Geri Halliwell might say, really is manifestation.
Perth Now
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Romeo Beckham is 'so, so proud' of his dad David for receiving a knighthood
Romeo Beckham is "so, so proud" of his dad David for receiving a knighthood. The 50-year-old sports legend - who has been married to Spice Girl Victoria Beckham since 1999 and also has Brooklyn, 26, Cruz, 20, as well as 13-year-old Harper Seven with her - will now be known as Sir David Beckham after being named in the King's Birthday Honours list and Romeo, 22, was quick to praise his father over the news. Alongside a snap of himself and his dad, Romeo wrote on Instagram: "So so proud of you", and emblazoned his words with a string of white heart emojis. Shortly after that, musician Cruz also took to social media to congratulate his dad. He wrote: "I'm so proud dad I love you. "Sir David Beckham Has a nice ring to it." At the time of writing, David and Victoria's eldest child Brooklyn is yet to make any public statement on the news. But Victoria did acknowledge the "passion" has husband has that has led him to this point as she admitted she "couldn't be prouder" of him. She wrote on Instagram: "You've always been my knight in shining armour, but now it's official. Sir @davidbeckham!!! What an honour, I couldn't be prouder of you. Your dedication to the things that matter most — your country, your work, your passion, and most of all, your family — has never wavered. The way you've touched so many lives over the years with kindness and humility speaks volumes about the man you are and continues to inspire us everyday. But above all else, I'm so, so proud to call you mine. I love you so much xxxx" Along with the former Manchester United star's new title of Sir David Beckham, the fashion designer will become formally known as Lady Victoria. Upon receiving the honour, the sports star admitted that he found it all to be a "truly humbling" experience. He said: "Growing up in East London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour. "To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career, and literally a boyhood dream come true." I've been so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I'm grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment. "It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I'm immensely proud and it's such an emotional moment for me to share with my family." In 2003, he was given an OBE by the late Queen Elizabeth for services to football. The former England captain has a long history of carrying out charitable work, which Honours Committee officials will have considered before deciding to bestow him with the honour.
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
David Beckham's children celebrate his Knighthood but Brooklyn's response speaks volumes
David Beckham's children have shared sweet public posts online - however, Brooklyn has decided against it. David Beckham's children have congratulated their father after he finally received his knighthood and became Sir David. However, eldest son Brooklyn Beckham's silence on the huge milestone has spoken volumes compared to his siblings. The football star, 50, has been after the accolade for sport and charity work for years. Now, his dreams have finally come true as he has been made a Sir and his wife is now Lady Victoria Beckham. Back in 2013, it was thought that his chances of Knighthood were dashed when explosive emails were leaked where he reportedly slammed the Honours Committee for not including him on the list, referring to them as "unappreciative c***s." However, time went on luckily for David, and King Charles even dropped a hint last month when they were pictured together at the Chelsea Flower Show. Charles asked him: 'You got it, didn't you?' Before David replied: 'It was incredible, thank you. It was very kind.' David, who is a proud dad to sons Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and daughter Harper, has been celebrated by his family as his achievement has become reality. David's Knighthood is welcome news for the Beckham family as they have been embroiled in a family feud with eldest son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz. Things were apparently tense between the family when Brooklyn and Nicola didn't attend David's 50th birthday celebrations as the drama has reportedly resulted in the couple cutting contact with the entire family. Despite the ongoing feud, David's children have come together to show their support. Cruz and Romeo have both shared gushing tributes on their social media pages. Romeo Beckham shared a sweet post for his dad on Instagram, shortly after the news was released on Friday night. David and Victoria's second eldest son posted a photo of himself and his dad at David's 50th birthday celebration. The snap showed a smiling Romeo looking lovingly at his dad as David pulls a face at the camera. "So so proud of you," Romeo gushed as he added four white heart emojis to the post. Meanwhile, David's son Cruz, 20, also shared a tribute to his dad's achievement. Cruz posted a picture of his beloved dad smiling during their trip to Scotland and wrote: "I'm so proud dad I love you" before he added: "Sir David Beckham Has a nice ring to it". Romeo, 22, shared a sweet four-word tribute to his dad on Instagram this morning alongside a black and white image with him. The message read: "So proud of you" which David later shared to his stories. However, Brooklyn, who reportedly wasn't told about the accolade, has stayed silent about his dad's knighthood online – posting normally with no mention of his dad's Knighthood. The silence speaks volumes as the budding chef shared three packets of pretzel pita chips on his Instagram story following the news that David was being made a Sir by His Majesty. Doubling down on the refusal to post a tribute, Brooklyn shared a later snap on his Instagram story as he captured an image of a tin of caviar alongside a bottle of his brand, Cloud 23, hot sauce along with a bottle of wine and two drinking glasses. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
