Dr Hilary Jones has said he is “very humbled” to have been included in the Queen’s recent birthday honours list and is “in awe” of how fellow medics have stepped up to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking to the Gazette about the award, the former Basingstoke GP said: “I feel very humbled and honoured to receive this recognition which reflects my work in medical care, public-health broadcasting and charity over the last 40 years.

“But I am also acutely aware that there are people more deserving of an honour than myself and so many whose utterly fantastic work goes unsung and unrecognised. Many people from many walks of life have enabled me to get this far and I am indebted to all of them.”

He added that celebrations were “understandably relatively muted” given the current situation, but said he enjoyed a “medicinal tipple” with his 94-year-old mum, before going for dinner at a favourite restaurant with family, where he “enjoyed some health-giving antioxidants and one of my five a day in the form of a large bottle of Merlot.”

While many people have congratulated the TV doctor, best known for appearing on Good Morning Britain, he also received a fair share of criticism for his opinions and advice throughout the pandemic.

“Social media can certainly bring people together for good reasons, but it also allows a minority of vile people to vent their ignorant views and spread dangerous misinformation,” he said.

“I don’t know anybody in the media who does not receive some negative attention and millions of young people have mental health problems as a result of unsolicited and unwarranted sadistic criticism. It is becoming a pandemic almost worse than Covid itself. They cowardly hide behind their anonymity trying to bully or provoke. They crave a response but don’t get one from me as unfortunately for them I don’t read it.”

Speaking of the events of recent months, Dr Hilary said: “I am in awe of the fabulous work that my fellow doctors’ nurses and other healthcare professionals have been involved in during these last few months. They have worked above and beyond making huge personal sacrifices and even putting their own health on the line. Only once before has so much been owed to so few by so many. I am proud to be one of their colleagues.”

Looking forward, Dr Hilary says he hopes that things will be back to relative normal by summer of next year, but is doubling his charitable efforts as people continue to struggle through the winter, encouraging others to look out for each other too.

“We are still learning so much about this virus as time goes on but what we do know is that it is spread between humans via close physical contact. Much will depend on our social behaviours. We don’t know how it will end. Perhaps with a vaccine. perhaps because of increased personal and herd immunity perhaps, because the virus mutates.

“But we cannot make any assumptions. For the time being we have to live with it. My guess is that life will be largely back to normal by next summer but in the meantime, we need to keep positive be kind to one another keep things in perspective and be grateful for what we have.”

He added: “It has certainly been a busy year with no signs of letting up. I think people need a proper sense of perspective about everything that is currently going on and to be able to make sense of all the conflicting headlines that come their way.

“To that end I will continue to provide what I consider to be a balanced view. My charity work is even more important now than it’s ever been as money is tight and people have other priorities so I will redouble my efforts in this sphere.”