 In fiction, Billington's name was introduced in "Death of a Hollow Man" by Caroline Graham, later adapted as for the "Midsomer Murders" television mystery series, in which DCI Tom Barnaby coaxes deluded local director, and double murderer, Harold Winstanly into accompanying him to the police station by suggesting Michael Billington and journalists from various respectable publications would be waiting to discuss his work.Billington was made an Honorary Fellow of St Catherine's College, Oxford in 2005 and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by The University of Warwick in July 2009.He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to the theatre.