Corrie veterans Helen Worth and Antony Cotton receive MBEs for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

CORONATION Street became a land of soap and glory last night — as veterans Helen Worth and Antony Cotton received gongs ­for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The overjoyed pair are among dozens of entertainers — including MasterChef hosts John Torode and Gregg Wallace — honoured to mark Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne.

Helen, 71, said she was “delighted” to get an MBE after playing Gail Platt on the ITV soap for almost 48 years.

She said: “To be honoured for doing something I have enjoyed so much for so many years is truly wonderful, and I am particularly delighted to receive this award in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Year.”

Antony, 46, who made his debut on the cobbles as Sean Tully back in 2003, said he was “overwhelmed” with the same gong as Helen — for his acting and charity work with troops.

In July last year he met the Queen when she visited the Weatherfield set to celebrate the show’s 60th anniversary. Antony dedicated his award to our war heroes, saying: “I am completely overwhelmed by this honour, especially as it has come during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

“I share this award with every single person who has ever fought for our country - I am incredibly humbled and honoured to be in your company. Thank you for your service.”

Meanwhile, MasterChef judges Gregg and John told of their shock and pride at being awarded MBEs. South London-born Gregg, 57, said it felt like he was living in a “fairytale”.

'Glittering reign'

The former greengrocer said: “Wow - fruit and veg has been a very good friend to me over the years. What an unbelievable honour it is to be recognised by Her Majesty at such a fabulous moment in her glittering reign.

"From a council estate in Peckham to being recognised by the Queen is for me something akin to a fairytale story. I am incredibly, incredibly proud.”

Aussie-born John, 56 added he was “humbled and very grateful” for his honour. The pair have been hosting MasterChef since its revival in 2005, and its huge success has sparked popular spin-offs across the globe as well as celebrity and junior versions.

John said: “I am truly thrilled, humbled and very grateful and I’d like to thank those who nominated me for this great honour of an MBE. To be put forward and recognised for services to the food industry and broadcasting which I have worked in for over 40 years is a very proud moment for me and my family.

Another to get a gong is Total Eclipse of the Heart singer Bonnie Tyler, 70. The Welsh singing legend, who has been belting out tunes for five decades, said her MBE shows that “anyone from any background can become a success” after successfully belting out tunes for five decades.

As we revealed in The Sun on Sunday, Homeland star Damian Lewis, 51, receives a CBE. The actor, whose actress wife Helen McCrory died of cancer last year, carries out work for a string of charities and organisations.

Fashion designer Stella McCartney, 50, and philanthropist Elisabeth Murdoch, 53, were also both handed CBEs. Sports broadcaster Clare Balding, 51, said it is “overwhelming to be recognised for doing things I enjoy so much” as she is also made a CBE.

Meanwhile, Birds of a Feather star Pauline Quirke, 62, is made an MBE. Other winners include Call The Midwife creator Heidi Thomas, 59, who said her OBE will be going “straight on the mantelpiece” in Nonnatus House, the fictional convent in the hit TV show she created.

From a council estate in Peckham to being recognised by the Queen is for me something akin to a fairytale story.

Gregg Wallace

Grime rapper and director Andrew Onwubolu, 32 also gets an OBE — and told how it made his parents proud. His film Blue Story - about a London gang war - was pulled from cinemas in 2019 after violence broke out in a number of screenings.

He said: “It really makes me feel like everything I’ve done has hit a target and it’s rising and rising, and to me it’s only the beginning - it’s only the start. But it does give you that push and what it’s done personally is, on top of that, is that when I told my parents, they were really excited. It was really good because it made them happy as well, so that was nice.”

The Platinum Jubilee Honours recognise famous names from the worlds of the arts, sport, politics as well as unsung heroes in local communities.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “This historic Platinum Jubilee is not only a celebration of the monarch but of the qualities she possesses.

“The honours she confers this week reflect many of those qualities that have been invaluable from all different walks of life and to communities across the UK. I pay tribute to all of this year’s winners. Their stories of courage and compassion are an inspiration to us all.”

A record proportion of Queen’s Birthday Honours are going to women with the percentage this year - 51.5 per cent - slightly higher than the previous record of 51.2 per cent set in 2015.

In a nod to Prince Charles, the Queen handed a key member of her son’s team a top honour. Clive Alderton, principal private secretary to the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, has been made a Knight Commander of the RVO.

Sir Clive first joined their household in 2006. He was briefly appointed the UK’s Ambassador to Morocco in 2012 and served three years in the post before returning as the prince’s principal aide.

AWARD FOR ANGELA, 104

UNSUNG HEROES

A 104-YEAR-OLD dance teacher is among the winners of a Jubilee gong.

Ballet dancer Angela Redgrave is one of more than 1,000 to receive a British Empire Medal in honour of her Majesty’s landmark moment.

Ms Redgrave, who started dancing at the age of ten and taught for seven decades said: “I feel very honoured.”

The youngest winners of the medal are 11-year-old twins Elena and Ruben Evans-Guillen from Warrington who raised £50,000 for NHS charities.

Also receiving a BEM were Royal British Legion stalwart Patricia Anne Husselbee, 80, from Newport, Wales, and Norwich community nurse Wendy Kimberley, who painted more than 60 portraits of NHS workers during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, pandemic heroes Prof Stephen Powis, the Medical Director of NHS England and AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot were awarded knighthoods in the honours list.

Top nurse Ruth May was made a Dame and Dr Raghib Ali, an Oxford University Hospitals consultant, received an OBE.

ARLENE A DAME

POLITICIANS

FORMER Northern Ireland First Minister and DUP chief Arlene Foster, is made a Dame.

Former Culture Secretary Maria Miller and Labour MP Nia Griffiths also receive the title. Tony Blair’s son, Euan, gets an MBE for services to education.

Ex-Attorney General Jeremy Wright is knighted days after telling the PM to quit over partygate.

SIRS’ UPGRADE

ART AND LITERATURE

CARTOONIST Sir Quentin Blake gets his knighthood upgraded to a Companions of Honour.

The Roald Dahl illustrator, 89, said he will set about new projects with “renewed effort and enthusiasm”.

Author Sir Salman Rushdie also got the award, held by just 65 people at any one time. Crime writer Ian Rankin was knighted.