That's Sir Nigel to you

Thesp Hawthorne wins knighthood

By ERICH BOEHM

LONDON -- Nigel Hawthorne, best known as the star of "The Madness of King George" has been knighted, and several other British entertainment figures have also received kudos from the Queen.

The Academy Award nominee now gets level pegging with Sir Humphrey Appleby, the character that brought Hawthorne to fame in the BBC sitcom "Yes, Minister." Hawthorne, 69, joins an elite group of Brit thesps -- including John Gielgud, Alec Guinness and Anthony Hopkins -- who hold the title.

Several other stars received the lesser honor of OBE (Order of the British Empire): Robert Carlyle of "The Full Monty" and "Trainspotting" fame, and singers Tom Jones, David Essex and Dusty Springfield, who is currently battling cancer.

OBEs were also awarded to "Four Weddings and a Funeral" producer Duncan Kenworthy, as well as TV producer Denise O'Donoghue, whose credits include the sitcoms "Father Ted" and "Drop the Dead Donkey" as well as the satirical quiz show "Have I Got News for You?"