Don’t call me sir

London

Hundreds of Britons have refused to accept knighthood and other honors from the queen, the London Sunday Times has revealed. The newspaper got hold of a secret document that listed more than 300 actors, artists, scientists, and writers who have declined to be made knights, dames, commanders, or members of the British Empire since 1945. They include pop star David Bowie, chef Nigella Lawson, painter Lucian Freud, writer Roald Dahl, comedian John Cleese, and actors Albert Finney and Kenneth Branagh. The government confirmed that around 2 percent of the 3,000 people chosen for honors each year turn them down, mostly for political reasons.

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