The Newsroom

George Alagiah OBE - New Year Honours List

(December 2007)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
JR
jrothwell97
reggieB posted:
Has Alagiah done anything more than do his job? A job for which, presumably, he has been pretty handsomely paid?
It seems that every year or so, some old lag whose been around a while getst chucked a gong. It was Alastair Stewart last time, who despite a conviction for driving 3 times over the limit was considered worthy of an honour. So I supp[ose it was the BBC's turn. Jeremy Thompson next, I guess.
These honours to journalists from Government are corrupting. They shouldn't be given, and more to the point, shouldn't be accepted.


Rubbish. They're not from the Government: they are from the Monarchy, and while the Government may nominate people for honours, it is the Queen who has the final word.
TV
archiveTV
jrothwell97 posted:
reggieB posted:
Has Alagiah done anything more than do his job? A job for which, presumably, he has been pretty handsomely paid?
It seems that every year or so, some old lag whose been around a while getst chucked a gong. It was Alastair Stewart last time, who despite a conviction for driving 3 times over the limit was considered worthy of an honour. So I supp[ose it was the BBC's turn. Jeremy Thompson next, I guess.
These honours to journalists from Government are corrupting. They shouldn't be given, and more to the point, shouldn't be accepted.


Rubbish. They're not from the Government: they are from the Monarchy, and while the Government may nominate people for honours, it is the Queen who has the final word.


They are decided by the Government, the queen has no say she just dishes them out.

Alistair Campbell has revealed how they always wanted to get some popular figures in so it reflected well on the Government. The whole process is corrupt. If it was really for services to Journalism then Paxman would have got one,

Jon Snow did indeed turn his down and fronted a Channel 4 programme on the whole issue,

Many others have also turned them down, some listed here
CH
chris
I think Huw Edwards deserves this more. He's been there for much longer and presents many important occassions as well...
MA
Markymark
archiveTV posted:

Jon Snow did indeed turn his down and fronted a Channel 4 programme on the whole issue,

Many others have also turned them down, some listed here


That's right, I remember the programme now. Included a scene shot inside 200 GIR of Snow attempting to button hole Sir Trev to explain why he'd accepted his gong.
RM
Roger Mellie
Brekkie Boy posted:

Kylie has got one too - I thought they were restricted to Brits, but I guess then the Commonwealth is also included.


British passport holders AIUI.... Kylie has lived here a long time, so presumably now has one (or joint UK-Australian one?)

The reason Terry Wogan can call himself Sir Terry, is because he has a joint British-Irish passport I believe.

For non-British subjects, people can receive an "honorary" award. Steven Spielberg is an honorary knight since he's American, viz
Steven Spielberg KBE (Knight of the British Empire)

The honours are always "accidently" leaked out to the press a few days in advance, increasingly earlier each time it seems!
TV
archiveTV
Roger Mellie posted:
Brekkie Boy posted:

Kylie has got one too - I thought they were restricted to Brits, but I guess then the Commonwealth is also included.


British passport holders AIUI.... Kylie has lived here a long time, so presumably now has one (or joint UK-Australian one?)

The reason Terry Wogan can call himself Sir Terry, is because he has a joint British-Irish passport I believe.

For non-British subjects, people can receive an "honorary" award. Steven Spielberg is an honorary knight since he's American, viz
Steven Spielberg KBE (Knight of the British Empire)

The honours are always "accidently" leaked out to the press a few days in advance, increasingly earlier each time it seems!


Ayone who has the Queen as Head of State can get a full award, so that includes citizens of Australia, Canada and New Zealand
AN
all new Phil
I really don't understand how somebody can be awarded something like this for just doing their job, but coincidentally being famous because of it. There are hundreds, probably thousands of people who have worked as hard as those mentioned but, as they are not in the public eye, they won't be recognised.
BR
breakingnews
What is an OBE or CBE anyway...I mean I know what they stand for, but what do they actually mean and why is one more important than the other?
IT
itsrobert Founding member
all new Phil posted:
I really don't understand how somebody can be awarded something like this for just doing their job, but coincidentally being famous because of it. There are hundreds, probably thousands of people who have worked as hard as those mentioned but, as they are not in the public eye, they won't be recognised.


That's true. My Grandma ran a voluntary play group for over 40 years and to this day has been running a voluntary community Over 60s club for over 50 years (obviously, she started that when she was much younger than 60!) and was turned down for an honour from the Queen.
RM
Roger Mellie
archiveTV posted:
Roger Mellie posted:
Brekkie Boy posted:

Kylie has got one too - I thought they were restricted to Brits, but I guess then the Commonwealth is also included.


British passport holders AIUI.... Kylie has lived here a long time, so presumably now has one (or joint UK-Australian one?)

The reason Terry Wogan can call himself Sir Terry, is because he has a joint British-Irish passport I believe.

For non-British subjects, people can receive an "honorary" award. Steven Spielberg is an honorary knight since he's American, viz
Steven Spielberg KBE (Knight of the British Empire)

The honours are always "accidently" leaked out to the press a few days in advance, increasingly earlier each time it seems!


Ayone who has the Queen as Head of State can get a full award, so that includes citizens of Australia, Canada and New Zealand


Aaaw right, thanks for clearing that up Cool Hope I've got the following right Laughing

In ascending order

MBE= Member of British Empire
OBE= Order of British Empire
CBE= Commander of British Empire

Then knighthood, peerages etc
MO
Moz
Roger Mellie posted:
MBE= Member of British Empire
OBE= Order of British Empire
CBE= Commander of British Empire

No, people often make this mistake. It's not Member of British Empire - we were all once this! The correct meanings are...

MBE= Member of the Order of the British Empire
OBE= Officer of the Order of British Empire
CBE= Commander of the Order of the British Empire
BR
breakingnews
Moz posted:
Roger Mellie posted:
MBE= Member of British Empire
OBE= Order of British Empire
CBE= Commander of British Empire

No, people often make this mistake. It's not Member of British Empire - we were all once this! The correct meanings are...

MBE= Member of the Order of the British Empire
OBE= Officer of the Order of British Empire
CBE= Commander of the Order of the British Empire


What do they actually mean though??

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