Cold Feet actor Robert Bathurst has raised eyebrows by jokily suggesting his fellow thespians only received an honorary award because ‘someone in the Foreign Office fancies them’.
The 68-year-old star made the tongue-in-cheek comment in a magazine column outlining his ‘ruthless’ yet ‘charming’ tips on how to get ahead in showbusiness.
Bathurst, best known for portraying pompous management consultant David Marsden in ITV’s long-running comedy, has never been awarded a gong from Britain’s honours system.
But plenty of UK stars have, including Sir Michael Caine, Dame Julie Andrews and Kate Winslet, who was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2012.
Others who have been honoured in recent years include Benedict Cumberbatch and Joan Collins, who were both made a CBE, while Keira Knightley and Eddie Redmayne were both given an OBE.
The list of honorees also features foreign nationals, including from 15 Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Canada and Jamaica.
Recommendations in this category come directly from the foreign secretary.
Among the Hollywood glitterati who have been bestowed with a British honour are Angelina Jolie, who was made an honorary dame in 2014 by Queen Elizabeth II for her campaigning work fighting sexual violence.
Cold Feet actor Robert Bathurst jokingly raised eyebrows by suggesting his fellow thespians only received an honorary award because ‘someone in the Foreign Office fancies them’
Bathurst is best known for portraying pompous management consultant David Marsden in ITV’s long-running comedy, Cold Feet
Australian actress and singer Kylie Minogue was given an OBE in 2008 for her services to music, while filmmaker Steven Spielberg was made an honorary knight in 2001 for his services to the entertainment industry.
Recipients are typically announced twice a year, on the monarch’s official birthday in June and again in the New Year.
Bathurst made his wry observation while writing for The Oldie‘s latest April edition.
He wrote: ‘Actor honours are For Services To Your Career, plus a few charity carol concert readings at St Paul’s, but often it’s just because someone in the Foreign Office fancies you.
‘The CBE is a toff-enough prize to accept without seeming ostentatious – cf oh oh-so diffident Paul Scofield – but the truly honest grafter will go for the full K or Dame.
‘After that, every BBC knee shall bow.’
Other tips in his humorous column include such advice as changing one’s agent as regularly as ‘clearing out the sock drawer’, how much teeth one should bare in an article and why bringing a dog on set can indicate just how successful an actor has become.
Among the Hollywood glitterati who have been bestowed with a British honour are Angelina Jolie, who was made an honorary dame in 2014 by Queen Elizabeth II for her campaigning work fighting sexual violence
