Rushdie 'humbled' by knighthood

Also in the list, which contains an array of stars from sport, showbusiness, fashion, the arts and industry, are Oleg Gordievsky, the former Soviet spy who defected to Britain, cricketer Ian Botham, Dame Edna Everage's creator Barry Humphries and fund-raiser and terminal cancer sufferer Jane Tomlinson.

They share the limelight with hundreds of unknown "ordinary people" honoured for voluntary work and charity fundraising at what Downing Street describes as the "sharp end" of society.

It is "Arise Sir Beefy", as Botham gets a knighthood not only for his cricketing prowess but for his long-distance walks which have raised millions for charity. Botham said that the money raised for leukaemia research was only possible because of his celebrity status as a cricketer.

"One does not work without the other," he said . "What I achieved on the cricket field and the status I achieved with the public has allowed me to then go and raise the money for leukaemia."

There is a CBE for Humphries, who as Dame Edna once welcomed the Queen at a concert in Buckingham Palace with the words: "The Jubilee girl is here, possums." It brought the house down.

Mr Humphries said: "I'm deeply honoured. At last I can address Sir Les Patterson and Dame Edna Everage on an improved footing." Sir Les, Australia's lecherous, dribbling and offensive 'cultural attache to Britain', is Humphries's other main character.

And there is a CMG (Companion of the Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George) in the Diplomatic List for Gordievsky, a one-time colonel in the KGB, who became the highest-ranking KGB defector ever. The citation is "for services to the security of the United Kingdom".

Other big names in the list include Ryan Giggs, the Manchester United footballer, who has just retired from the Welsh national team, Last Of The Summer wine actor Peter Sallis and Nicky Clarke, hairdresser to the stars.

But for the second list in succession, widespread speculation of a knighthood - or indeed of any honour - for David Beckham, proved groundless.