Ricky Tomlinson delighted with Freedom honour

British actor Ricky Tomlinson has been awarded the Freedom of the City in Liverpool, England and described the honour as better than an Oscar. The Mike Bassett: England Manager star accepted the civic honour in a ceremony at Liverpool Town Hall on Monday night (06Oct14), and he revealed he thought it was a joke when he first found out about the special prize.
He tells the Liverpool Echo newspaper, “I’m absolutely chuffed (delighted) but when I first found out I really thought it was a wind-up (joke). Then I got a discreet call from Mayor Joe Anderson and I was made-up (happy). I’m so lucky.”
Tomlinson even suggests the honour is more important than an Academy Award, adding, “You keep your Oscars and your BAFTAs – those are selected by luvvies, this is from the people of Liverpool, and I love them. This has to be the greatest accolade of my career by a mile.”