David Brent

Newspaper reports suggest TV host Michael Parkinson will be awarded a knighthood come the next Queen's Birthday Honours list next June.

Gordon Brown gave the thumbs-up to the nomination and the Queen has already approved it.

Bruce Forsyth will also become a knight at the same awards.

Dave.

stevie boy

They are both good professionals, but a Knighthood.

Frank63

Handing gongs out to all and sundry just degrades it for thoses who have actually done something to deserve the recognition

kelp

Hear! Hear! Frank63.
But I fear it was all over years ago, deserving ones knighthood I mean.
Even though it is the business I am in, why oh why, actors and entertainers all the time? Why not those that truly deserve? But if this is how it is.........congrats to the brilliant trooper, and the journo.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...YOU MAY GET IT!

Lord Brett

I agree, and feel just the same about Bruce Forsythe, who is reportedly up for the same 'honour'.

Dame Starry

Both Parkinson and Forsyth are people privileged to be able to make money out of their chosen professions in which they are both talented, but nobody should be rewarded just for services to showbusiness or sport.

However, Bruce Forsyth has always done, and continues to do, a lot of charity work - both here and in South America - for which a Knighthood has been well-earned.

Does anyone know anything about any charitable works that Parkinson is involved in?

YDSL x.

The Christmas countdown has begun - don't leave it all until the last minute!

Windthrop

and there are cynical people out there who suggest that the charitable work is only done for the gong....terrible people, who could think that

Thats the joke that killed the Music Hall !

Wolfgang

And yet someone like Alex Higgins who turned snooker into national phenomenon in 1970s and early 80s enriching British culture and adding it to cricket and football as one of Britain's biggest sporting exports does not even have MBE after his name simply because he gets pissed, starts fights and charitably charges children for his autograph!

orpheum

I recorded the final show with Michael Caine etc and it was one of the most cringe making exercises ever.I had to fast forward when Parky told MC that he was one of the worlds best actors.i ended up watching about 10mins of this.What on earth has Parky or Forsythe ever done to deserve a K

Welcome To Highbury The Home Of Football

Dame Starry

........no doubt there's some truth in that too, W! But, if I had to choose Brucie OR Parky, it would have to be Brucie.

I do, however, think that whatever the reason a Knighthood/Damehood is given, it should be for a LIFETIME'S achievements and not to a 35-year-old (I name no names)!
The only exception I would make would be Jane Tomlinson who achieved more in her short, 'borrowed' lifetime than many do in one twice as long. And I still think she should be awarded one posthumously.

YDSL x.

The Christmas countdown has begun - don't leave it all until the last minute!

Windthrop

In their particular cases the K becomes a long service award - a gold watch of showbiz. IMHO I think that people who have made a lot of money from their line of work should be happy with the loot and not be rewarded under the honours system. People working in less lucrative but worthy work unheralded for their sterling service are better recipients. Makes me sound very left-of-centre which I am not but it is just the way I feel about it. Their are not many showbiz people who actually put their money where their mouth is - some like Atty have to causes - but often the excuse is that their time is very valuable and giving it for free is the same thing and gaining publicity for causes is more important. There are cases of those who have used their talents for some major good - Brian Rix is an example who gave up the business to go into charitable administration and did very valuable work indeed for MENCAP - most just leave me feeling that they are gaining good publicity for themselves primarily. Marxists argue that charity just masks the inequalities of the system and that if everyone refused to involve themselves in charity it would force the powers to be to reform the whole of society. Too much 'red' wine meethinks

Thats the joke that killed the Music Hall !

batman

Sir Rog is another who I feel genuinely cares about his charity work, likewise Audrey Hepburn.

Bats.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

Harbottle

The way these honours have been handed out in recent years I don't begrudge Sir Bruce. Never been keen on Parky, his constant banging on about being "working class"... in Maidenhead. I also recall his indignation at having to wheel his dustbin to the end of his drive, when the "wheely bins" were introduced! Surely he has servants to do that?

Fellwanderer

I think stars are damned if they do and damned if they don't! It probably all boils down to what the individual feels about the particular star.

Certainly the only two of whom I can claim any firsthand knowledge work hard for their chosen charities in terms of both their time, which they give freely, and their money.

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

stevie boy

If Bruce is getting a K for charity work,why wait until he is 80 ????. Knighthoods are now swayed by the media and who is in the news