UK News 22-12-2003 Celebs Who Said No To Honours who: David Bowie what: Among 300 celebrities who have turned down an honour from the Queen, leaked document reveals where: LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: Yesterday, for the first time, The Sunday Times published a list of 300 people from the elite of the arts, showbiz, sport, media and beyond who have all refused an honour from the Queen in the last 60 years, including 40 who have rejected them from the Blair Government. "From the film world there is Albert Finney, from literature J G Ballard," says The Independent`s Harvey McGavin, browsing through the famous names. "Popular music is represented by David Bowie, comedy by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders and art by the sculptor Anish Kapoor." "Other celebs include Fawlty Towers star John Cleese, who rejected a CBE in 1996 [and] actor Kenneth Branagh, who snubbed a CBE in 1994," says The Sun. "Painter LS Lowry turned down a total of five awards, including a knighthood." And author Doris Lessing tells The Telegraph she turned down the chance to become a dame in 1993 because it sounded "too pantomimy". The Commons public administration committee is due to examine the awards system this spring, notes The Guardian. "It`s a very impressive list," says Labour MP Tony Wright, the committee`s chairman. "Perhaps we could have an alternative honours list: a roll of honour for all those people who have turned them down. It`s pretty clear that we need root and branch reform." [... more]

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