Kylie, Parky on honours list

The Australian star is joined by Michael Parkinson, the master of the TV chat show, who gets a knighthood and Des Lynam, the distinguished sports commentator, who receives an OBE for services to sport.

Lynam described the honour as "a splendid surprise" which made him feel "truly privileged".

Stuart Rose, 58, the man who turned round Marks & Spencer, gets a knighthood, heading a list of some of Britain's most successful retailers.

Rose said he was delighted with the honour, adding: "But it is just as much for everyone at M&S as it is for me."

There are also honours for some of the people involved in this summer's floods crisis.

There are honours for stars like the actor Sir Ian McKellen, who becomes a Companion of Honour, Julie Walters and Leslie Phillips.

An OBE goes to George Alagiah, the 52-year-old BBC news presenter and reporter who has covered major stories worldwide.

A CBE is awarded to Brendan Foster, the long-distance runner and founder of the Great North Run, and an MBE for the current snooker world champion, John Higgins.

But most attention in this year's list is likely to focus on former Australian soap star Kylie, 39, who featured in the Christmas Dr Who adventure this week.

She exploded onto the British pop scene as a teenager in the 1980s and has since sold more than 60 million records worldwide.

In 2005 she was diagnosed with breast cancer, but overcame that and was soon back on stage delighting fans.

She said today: "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."

Michael Parkinson, 72, has just retired as probably the most successful and prolific chat show host in British TV history.

Sir Ian McKellen, 68, the gay Shakespearean actor, recently wowed critics with his performance as King Lear. But he is equally at home playing a pantomime dame, starring in blockbuster movies such as The Lord of the Rings or in the TV soap opera Coronation Street.

Sir Ian said he was honoured to join an Order which included such distinguished practitioners of the arts. "It is particularly pleasing that 'equality' is included in my citation," he added.

A CBE goes to Julie Walters, 56, one of Britain's most versatile actresses. Among her best-known roles was Mrs Overall in Victoria Wood's spoof soap, Acorn Antiques.

There is a CBE for actor Leslie Phillips, 83, famous for his seductively drawled catch-phrase "Hellooo" and as a veteran of the Carry On films.

The larger-than-life actor Richard Griffiths, 60, who made his name in the TV series, Pie in the Sky, gets an OBE.

There are MBEs for people involved in rescue operations during the 2007 floods.

Several senior figures in the retail trade are honoured. In addition to Stuart Rose, CBEs go to Richard Bradbury, chief executive of the international fashion house River Island, and to Maurice Bennett, who has been involved in the fashion industry for half a century.

In sport, an OBE goes to rugby star and former England captain Jason Robinson, a hero of England's Rugby Union World Cup campaign.

And an MBE goes to Brian Ashton, who as head coach steered England to this year's World Cup final against the odds. He said he was "honoured and privileged" to receive the award.

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