ACTRESS Thandie Newton takes a lead role in the New Year Honours with an OBE.

Footie’s Harry Kane, model Twiggy and TV’s Michael Palin are also saluted.

Monty Python legend Michael Palin nets the Holy Grail of gongs in the New Year Honours — a knighthood.

Michael, 75, who starred in the musical comedy Spamalot, is made a Sir for services to travel, culture and geography.

He joked: “I have been a knight before, in Python films.

"I have been several, including Sir Galahad and the knight who said, ‘ni’.”

But he said he won’t believe his real title “until I see envelopes addressing me as Sir Michael”.

The comedian and TV travel documentary host, said he may “just have a quiet celebration — just myself and a glass of Horlicks”.

Downton Abbey star Jim Carter, 70, who played butler Mr Carson in the period drama, receives an OBE.

Filmmaker Christopher Nolan, 48, whose titles include Inception and Dunkirk, gets a CBE.

Author Philip Pullman, 72, who created the hugely successful His Dark Materials trilogy, was “very surprised and honoured” to receive a knighthood.

TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham, 57, is awarded a CBE.

Nearly three quarters of this year’s 1,148 recipients earn gongs for outstanding voluntary and community work.

They include 43 recognised for their acts responding to terror attacks in Manchester and London in 2017.

Grenfell Tower relief work gongs will not be awarded until the public inquiry is over.

Youth magazine founder Saeed Atcha, with an MBE for services to young people and the community in Greater Manchester, is the youngest on the list at 22.

The oldest is 100-year-old World War Two veteran Robert Lingwood.

He is awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community.

Consultant plastic surgeon Professor Simon Kay gets an OBE.

He performed the UK’s first double hand transplant.

John Clough, whose daughter Jane was murdered, receives an MBE for campaigning for victims of domestic abuse.

Andrea Aviet, who runs a charity helping abused women and young people, is awarded a BEM.

Stagecoach co-founder Ann Gloag, 76, and ex-Virgin Money CEO Jayne-Anne Gadhia, 57, are made dames.

Dr Helen Pankhurst, a senior adviser at CARE international, and great-granddaughter of suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, gets a CBE, for services to gender equality.

Campaigner Claire Turnham, founder of Victims of Viagogo, which helps customers reclaim money on event tickets, receives an MBE.