BBC’s Sherlock Writer Steven Moffat To Receive Officer Of The Most Excellent Order Of The British Empire

“If you have a fancy to see your name in the next honours list….”

– The Adventure of The Bruce Partington Plans (BRUC)

We had earlier reported that Benedict Cumberbatch was named in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours as being awarded with a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. I neglected to notice that Steven Moffat, writer and co-producer of BBC’s Sherlock, was also to be honored as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).

From Fraser McAlpine’s June 12, 2015 article on BBC’s Anglophenia:

It was announced on Friday that Steven Moffat is to be awarded the OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s birthday honours list, for services to drama. These include scripting two of the most successful television shows in the world, Sherlock and Doctor Who.

Steven told BBC News that it took a short time after picking up his mail before he was even aware what was going on: “I got a very official-looking letter, but I didn’t have my reading glasses so I had no idea what it said. For ages I wandered round our house looking for my reading glasses, because it said ‘Cabinet Office’ on it I thought ‘well what could that be?’ But I was thrilled. It’s absolutely lovely.”

And he sees this honor as a vote of support for creatives and fans too:

“I think it gives hope and comfort to the shy kid at the back of the class with his head full of stories and no one to talk to. I think it’s great for writing that this happens.”

As well as being a seal of approval for both Sherlock and Doctor Who as thoroughbred dramatic presentations:

“I would like to think it means that they are more than huge hits—which they are, they are huge hits—they’re kind of important, kind of prestigious. You kind of want to say that about shows that have massive worldwide followings. They’re not just nonsense, they’re also important. They’re culturally significant.”

The badge for the OBE is in the form of a cross patonce (having the arms growing broader and floriated toward the end), the obverse of which bears the left facing busts of King George V and Queen Mary; the reverse bears George V’s Royal and Imperial Cypher. Both are within a ring bearing the motto of the Order. The badges are plain gold (unlike the enamelled CBE badge), and is suspended from a ribbon that is rose-pink with pearl-grey edges, with the addition of a pearl-grey central stripe for the military division.

UPDATE 6/19/2016: We have the following picture of Steven Moffat, shortly after he received his OBE.