Arise, SIR PATRICK STEWART!

[captcalhoun]

Aye, Yorkshire's own Captain is getting a knighthood in the New Year's Honours.

Beat that Shatman!

 

[parallax]

Excellent news, it's about time he was given a knighthood. Thanks for sharing.

Now we can justify the idea of badass Picard... 'DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!'

 

[Kirks_Flying_Wig]

Congratulations to [Sir] Patrick. I wonder what the Queen will say when she knights him? "One would like to know if there really were four lights."

 

[Tomalak]

About time! I imagine it's for services to the theatre, though his work at Huddersfield Uni won't have hurt.

Now he can be a proper luvvie.

 

[dru]

Perplexing. Just what is the justification for this honor?

 

[Sci]

Perplexing. Just what is the justification for this honor?

Presumably the same justification they use for any accomplished actor to whom they give this honor.

 

[Piper]

So well deserved. Just for his commanding Shakespeare stage work alone - the man is a class in his own.

I love this line in the news item:

“It’s a fantastic accolade for a fantastic actor,” said an observer.

Who is this mysterious observer? And what qualifies them to make this insightful comment? Guinan? Nagilum? Q? We should be told.

 

[WillsBabe]

Finally!

 

[Pemmer Harge]

Congratulations, I guess. Still don't believe in the honours system, mind.

 

[Christopher]

Perplexing. Just what is the justification for this honor?

Patrick Stewart was a major name in English theatre for 20 years before he was cast as Picard. When American audiences were just discovering him, maybe recognizing him from minor roles in Dune and Lifeforce, English audiences already knew him as an admired, accomplished veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company. And he's returned to the stage in England with a vengeance in recent years, to much acclaim. The British take their theatre seriously, and many veteran actors have been granted knighthoods. Stewart -- soon to be Sir Patrick -- is no less deserving than predecessors such as Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir Ralph Richardson, Sir John Gielgud, Dame Judith Anderson, Dame Judi Dench, etc.

 

[captcalhoun]

Sir Ian McKellan

now Charles Xavier is on an even footing with Magneto...

 

[Timewalker]

Wow, this is great! A wonderful Shakespearean actor, and it looks like yet another actor from I, Claudius is getting knighted! (Sir Derek Jacobi has already been knighted)

Congratulations!

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

Awesome!

He should start wearing a sword and speaking only in old Shakespearian English!

 

[Timewalker]

Awesome!

He should start wearing a sword and speaking only in old Shakespearian English!

Yep, I can just see the next TNG movie... Data's cat gets in Picard's way, and Picard has finally had enough:

"Out, damned Spot!"

 

[Commander Rabbit]

Yep, I can just see the next TNG movie... Data's cat gets in Picard's way, and Picard has finally had enough: "Out, damned Spot!"

Seriously, PS deserves the honor.

 

[Agenda]

I'm thrilled for him! I was wondering when he'd finally get it!

 

[dauntless]

It's worth noting, for our American cousins, and those Brits who have no idea, that the Queen does not formulate the lists of Honours - note the correct spelling. It is, in fact, down to the Prime Minister and th government - the same PM whose sons said that the UK needed Optimus Prime to lead it out of financial disaster. (If he's a Tory, I agree with them.) Now, seeing as Stewart is a die hard Labour supporter - a party which is in government and is currently trying to bankrupt the UK - it seems more likely that the knighthood is to do with party support than acting ability. Either that or Brown's sons are also Trek fans.

 

[Timewalker]

^Cowpies. Patrick Stewart has had a distinguished acting career on stage, in movies, and on TV, as well as many voice acting roles. His politics, I'm sure, have NOTHING to do with being honored for a job supremely well done!

 

[captcalhoun]

Optimus Prime's a liberal. he believes Freedom is the Right of All Sentient Beings after all.

 

[Holdfast]

I always vote Conservative (largely as the "least-worst" option, but still), but even I wouldn't say that Stewart's Labour suppport really would have much effect. The big choices for honours get hand-picked by ministers and the PM and party politics certainly comes into play then, but the vast bulk of nominations actually get selected by the Civil Service, to be given en masse to the politicians who generally rubber-stamp them for passing on to HM to officially make the choice (another rubber-stamping exercise, generally).

Patrick Stewart simply isn't important enough to be worth playing political games over for an honour. I suspect he must be one of the civil service picks emanating from the DCMS. As such, I suspect it's more likely to genuinely be "for services to drama" than anything else.