Kate Winslet Leads The Queens Birthday Honours List

Actress Kate Winslet has been announced at the front of the pack for this years Queens Birthday Honours List.

She and fellow thespian Kenneth Branagh will receive peerage for their services to drama and spreading British influence over the world with their work. Also, as predicted, Gary Barlow is in line for an OBE for his services to music and for organising the Queen's jubilee celebrations. Meanwhile titles will be awarded to comedian Armando Iannucci for services to broadcasting, The Woman in Black author Susan Hill, former MP Tessa Jowell for her work with the Olympics and knighthoods going to songwriter RICHARD STILGOE and Charles Dunstone, founder of Carphone Warehouse - both of whom are recognised for philanthropy.

This years list will also be the first time in 20 years that BEMs - or British Empire Medals - will be awarded to members of the public for services to local communities. Recently revived by David Cameron, 293 BEMs are set to be awarded for all manner of people involved with local community work, charities, and sports.

Prior to it's disuse in the early 90's, the BEMs were known as the "working-class gong" and was scrapped by John Major in 1991 in his efforts to make the honours system 'classless.'