UK Theatre Critic Michael Billington and Film Critic Philip French Honored with New Year's OBEs

According to the Guardian, the publication's theatre critic Michael Billington and the Observer's film critic Philip French have received OBEs on the Queen's New Year's honors list, for services to their respective fields.

"I'm glad for the Guardian," said Billington, who is the longest-serving member of the Critics' Circle. "Also it is the 100th anniversary of the Critics Circle this year, so I believe it is recognition not of me but of the need for critics and the continuity of criticism."

Read the original report here.

Billington has been the Guardian's theatre critic since 1971 and has written the books State of the Nation: British Theatre since 1945 and a biography of Harold Pinter. French has been the film critic at the Observer for 50 years, is a member of BAFTA, has received the film Critics' Circle lifetime achievement award and has served on the Cannes film festival jury.

Pictured: (top) Michael Billington (side) Philip French. Images courtesy the Guardian.

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