Bake Off judge Prue Leith is made a Dame in the Queen's Birthday Honours list
Former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips and veteran actor Jonathan Pryce are among the other stars of film and TV to be honoured.
It'll be "Dame Prue Leith" when the Great British Bake Off returns later this year – because the show's judge is among those to have been named in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
Leith, who took over from Mary Berry when the beloved baking show moved from BBC One to Channel 4 in 2017, has been made a Dame for services to food, broadcasting and charity.
She is one of many stars of film and TV to be honoured, with former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips also made a Dame for services to dance and charity, and actor Jonathan Pryce knighted for services to drama and charity.
Meanwhile, former Crimewatch presenter Nick Ross has been awarded a CBE for services to broadcasting, and BBC Sport presenter and former tennis player Sue Barker – who recently departed A Question of Sport – has been handed a CBE for services to sport, broadcasting and charity.
The Repair Shop host Jay Blades, radio presenter Simon Mayo, Luther and His Dark Materials actor Ruth Wilson, and TV Judge Robert Rinder have all been awarded MBEs.
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In a statement to the BBC, Leith said that "to be honoured for doing something that you love doing is just the icing on the cake."
In a tweet, she added: "I am thrilled, delighted and very grateful. I’m not sure I deserve such a pat on the back for doing things that I’ve loved all my long life - in business or cooking or campaigning. But I can’t pretend it’s not a huge honour and source of pride. Dame Prue! It will take some getting used to."
And Phillips, who was on the strictly judging panel from 2004 until 2008 and is also an acclaimed choreographer, described becoming a Dame as "crazy."
"It's wonderful," she said. "It has been recognised how important dance is to people. And dance and creating dance is one of the most empowering careers you can have."
Pryce, whose acting credits include Brazil, The Age of Innocence and an Academy Award-nominated turn in The Two Popes, said that it was important for those who work in the arts to continue to be acknowledged.
"After almost 50 years as an actor I am proud to think that the work and ideals that I have shared with my friends and colleagues is being honoured in this way," he told the BBC.
And Barker said that she and her entire family were "thrilled" at the news – especially her mother, who will turn 100 next week.
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Authors
Patrick Cremona is the Senior Film Writer at Radio Times, and looks after all the latest film releases both in cinemas and on streaming. He has been with the website since October 2019, and in that time has interviewed a host of big name stars and reviewed a diverse range of movies.
