Didn’t he do well? The king of entertainment knighted at last

The 83-year-old Strictly Come Dancing host’s prime-time TV career spanning more than half a century is recognised after years of campaigning by fans, including 73 MPs who signed a parliamentary Early Day Motion calling for the award.

Admitting he feared he might never get the honour, a delighted Sir Bruce said he could not wait to call his wife “my lady”.

The catchphrase-loving entertainer, who lives with his wife, former Miss World Wilnelia Merced, in Wentworth, Surrey, said he thought it was a hoax when he received the letter telling him about the honour.

“The longer it goes on, the longer you think it’s never going to happen,” he said.

Sir Bruce, who was born in Edmonton, north London, started his career aged 14 as Boy Bruce, The Mighty Atom, and went on to become a fixture on TV, fronting family favourites including Play Your Cards Right, The Generation Game and Bruce’s Price Is Right.

He received a CBE in 2006, but has had to wait another five years for a knighthood despite frequent speculation that he was in line for such an honour.

Henry Cecil, 68, from Newmarket, Suffolk, one of Britain’s most successful racehorse trainers, also receives a knighthood for more than 40 years of service to the sport.

In business and the City, knighthoods go to Bank of England governor Mervyn King, 63, and Brian Souter, 56, chief executive of Perth-based international transport group Stagecoach.

A total of 965 people are awarded honours, of whom 74 per cent are “local heroes” who have carried out unsung work serving their communities.

They include MBE recipient Joe Henson, who founded the Rare Breeds Survival Trust to conserve the UK’s native farm livestock.