Sir Michael Palin. A Knight who says 'Ni' - New years Honours

[Michael Morris]

Monty Python star Michael Palin has been knighted and model Twiggy made a dame in a New Year Honours list that also recognises the achievements of England manager Gareth Southgate.

Southgate becomes an OBE after guiding the Three Lions to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia - and the same honour goes to another sporting hero from 2018, Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas.

Former England cricket captain Alastair Cook and His Dark Materials author Philip Pullman are among the other new knights, while Handmaid's Tale novelist Margaret Atwood joins the elite Companions of Honour.

There are honours and bravery medals for seven members of the team of British divers which rescued 12 young footballers from a Thai cave in July.

[Michael Morris]

Harry Kane got an MBE as well.

Sol Bamba is going to get it off him on Tuesday

[bobh]

Gareth Southgate, OBE.

Award for failure?

Didn't actually win anything, did he?

[MacAdder]

Sir Alistair Cooke? OBE maybe but a Knight

[life on mars]

Sir Alistair Cooke? OBE maybe but a Knight

Yes bit early , no Sir David Beckham ,again ??

[jamieccfc]

Sir Alistair Cooke? OBE maybe but a Knight

Bloody ridiculous! And he’s a boring Kent as well personality of a plank of wood

[StraightOuttaCanton]

Mike Peters MBE - Totally deserves the recognition. Saw him last month in Toronto. What a special human being

[The Bloop]

Yes bit early , no Sir David Beckham ,again ??

If Beckham stopped investing in tax avoidance schemes then he might be in with a chance.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

If Beckham stopped investing in tax avoidance schemes then he might be in with a chance.

Palin's travel programme on North Korea the night before last was embarrassing. He spent a great deal of his time in the gilded cage that is Pyongyang (a city closed to most of the population) and thought he was mixing with ordinary people. Although he made some references to the incredible oppression present in the country he was basically a patsy for those who were happy to funnel him to places where it suited the regime to do so. I know it's not possible to easily shake off the yoke in NK but he seemed to imagine that many of his experiences were less than staged.
I don't have a lot of time for a lot of 'lazy' travel presenters (Simon Reeve being one exception) it has to be said.
Palin also seemed to be unaware that he was risking people's safety when he did ask them tricky questions.
No doubt we will eventually see Michael Portillo arriving in Pyonyang by train, taking afternoon tea with Kim Jong-un and then whisking him around the dance floor for a paso doble before discussing his furniture.
Recommended reading regarding North Korea: 'Nothing to Envy' by Barbara Demick.

[jon1959]

John Redwood knighted for services to backstabbing, swivel-eyed lunacy and anthem mangling.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

John Redwood knighted for services to backstabbing, swivel-eyed lunacy and anthem mangling.

It's a wonderful system for passing down baubles to royalists in our society.

[Auntie Andy]

John Redwood knighted for services to backstabbing, swivel-eyed lunacy and anthem mangling.

It’s a bribe to back Treason Mays Brexit balls up, simple as that.