AS usual, the New Year Honours list has produced plenty of material for lively debate.

It is easy to understand to the point of predictability why someone like Steve Redgrave - one of the century's greatest Olympians - should receive a knighthood.

Sir Spike Milligan, with a lifetime of making us laugh behind him, also trips easily off the tongue.

On the other hand, it is harder to work out why Jeremy Beadle should be honoured. Did he wonder if the Beadle's About cameras were pointing secretly at him when he opened his letter?

Tiggy Legge-Bourke, former nanny to Princes William and Harry, is another who falls into the section of the list which will have people asking the simple question: Why?

Thankfully, the list also has a scattering of unsung heroes to make it a worthwhile exercise.

Is Joe Byrne, of Ferryhill in County Durham, the only car park attendant to ever be awarded an MBE?

Joe has received the honour in recognition of his courteousness and dedication in looking after the car park at the local government buildings in Durham City.

"I thought someone was having me on," said Joe when he found out but it was true - Beadle wasn't about.

And Nellie Bowser - "the fairy godmother" of West Auckland - also receives an MBE for her tireless fundraising work for all kinds of local good causes.

With all due respect to Sir Steve and Sir Spike, it is the ordinary Joes and Nellies who stop us scratching our heads too hard about the Jeremys and the Tiggys.