Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa to receive honorary doctorate
Doctor Who Star Ncuti Gatwa to Receive Honorary Doctorate
The University of Glasgow will honor several notable figures with honorary degrees later this year, including Ncuti Gatwa, the star of the BBC sci-fi series *Doctor Who*, and Belle and Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch. These awards, scheduled for a ceremony in June, will also recognize BBC journalist Sarah Smith and her younger sister, Baroness Catherine Smith, who serves as the Advocate General for Scotland.
Commemoration Day and Anniversary Milestone
The first honorary degrees will be presented on Wednesday, 17 June, coinciding with the university’s Commemoration Day. This event marks the 575th anniversary of the institution’s founding in 1451. The ceremony will celebrate both the honorees and the university’s graduates, highlighting a blend of tradition and modern recognition.
“Honorary degrees give us the opportunity to recognize individuals whose achievements have had a profound and positive impact within their professions and wider society,” said Prof Andy Schofield, the principal and vice chancellor at the university. “Their work embodies values that continue to inspire our community.”
Gatwa, who portrayed the Doctor in the long-running series for two seasons, will be awarded a Doctor of the University. Sarah Smith, the BBC’s North America editor, will also receive this honor. Baroness Catherine Smith, a history graduate from Glasgow and newly appointed Advocate General in 2024, is among the recipients. Additionally, Jacqueline McLaren, the city’s Lord Provost, will be granted the same title.
Stuart Murdoch, the long-standing frontman of Glasgow-based indie-pop group Belle & Sebastian, will be conferred a Doctor of Music. Other musical figures like Deacon Blue and Eddi Reader will also receive honorary degrees, with their awards included in the university’s summer and winter graduation events.
Further honors will go to Professor Guido Tabellini, a political economics expert from Bocconi University, who will earn a Doctor of Letters, and Dr Stuart Campbell, an emeritus professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at King’s College London, receiving a Doctor of Science.
