Radio broadcaster Sir Jimmy Young has been knighted at Buckingham Palace by the Prince of Wales.

He was named in the Queen's New Year's Honours list for his services to broadcasting.

I don't think I will wear it into work

Sir Jimmy Young

Sir Jimmy, known as JY to his listeners, is one of the UK's best-loved radio presenters and is often nicknamed the "housewives' choice".

"I would think it was the most nervous I have been," said Sir Jimmy afterwards.

He described Thursday's ceremony, which he attended with his wife Alicia, daughter Leslie and cousin Anne, as "an honour for the programme".

"It's been a terrific year. The audience has grown from 2.5 million to six million," he said.

Asked where he would keep his award, he said: "I don't think I will wear it into work, Wogan will be terribly upset."

Sir Jimmy will be stepping down from his BBC Radio 2 lunchtime show at the end of 2002 after 26 years.

'Sad'

But he will continue to work on the station with a new weekend current affairs programme.

He said on Thursday: "I am sad to leave it and a lot of listeners are very sad, but times are changing and everything runs its course."

A group of MPs had lobbied to keep him in his daytime slot before his move was announced in January.

BBC World Service's Mark Tully was also knighted

As well as enjoying a loyal listener base, Sir Jimmy also commands the respect of politicians who have regularly appeared on his show.

Mystery

Former Conservative Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher appeared on his show 14 times during her time as leader.

Sir Jimmy's first job was as a baker's assistant. Later, he joined the Royal Air Force, and eventually entered showbusiness in 1949, when he started singing on the radio.

His age remains something of a mystery as he says he is 78 but evidence suggests he is in fact 80.

In Who's Who, he simply lists his birthdate as 21 September - and omits the year.

'Nervous schoolboy'

Also knighted on Thursday was Sir Mark Tully, the former BBC correspondent for India.

"I never ever thought I would be a knight," said Sir Mark.

"You feel like a nervous schoolboy, you go up there and you are terrified you will make a mistake."

He said he owed his knighthood to the BBC and South Asia.

During his 22 years with the corporation he became respected for his deep understanding of the complex affairs of the sub-continent.

He left the BBC in 1997 after condemning the way it was being run under its then-director general John Birt.

He still presents BBC Radio 4's Something Understood programme and has fronted the television history series The Lives of Jesus.

Sir Mark has also written a number of books including No Full Stops in India and Heart of India.