New Tricks star Redman receives MBE

Actress Amanda Redman has received her MBE from the Prince of Wales and described herself as "a bit wobbly with the first curtsey, the second one better".

The New Tricks star said that though she knows Charles is a fan of the hit TV crime drama, he was more interested in talking about her charity work.

After the ceremony at Buckingham Palace she said he had asked about the Artists' Theatre School she set up, which has trained dozens of young actors.

She said: "He was surprised about how long it's been since it was set up, and said what great talent we have produced."

Redman, who plays Sandra Pullman in New Tricks, has described the school, in Ealing, west London, where she lives, and its young pupils as "a kind of surrogate family".

The series, which stars Redman as the leader of a group of retired detectives investigating old cases, also features Dennis Waterman and Alun Armstrong and regularly pulls in around 10 million viewers.

Former England goalkeeper David James, who also received an MBE, said the Prince asked him about the foundation he has set up in Malawi to help local farmers.

"He was asking me about the foundation and wished me well," said the much-travelled star, currently playing for Bournemouth.

"It is an agricultural foundation set up in Malawi to educate farmers on better farming techniques, in a bid to solve the problem of starvation issues."

James, who has played for Bristol City, Watford, Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City and Portsmouth, received the award for his services to football and charity.