Doctor Who Star Ncuti Gatwa Honored with Honorary Degree
The University of Glasgow is set to confer honorary doctorates to Ncuti Gatwa, who gained fame for his role in the long-running science fiction series *Doctor Who*, and Stuart Murdoch, lead singer of the Scottish indie-pop band Belle & Sebastian. These awards will be presented at a ceremony on 17 June, coinciding with the university’s 575th anniversary since its founding in 1451.
Additional Honorees and Ceremony Details
Other recipients of the honorary degrees include BBC journalist Sarah Smith and her younger sister, Baroness Catherine Smith, who serves as the Advocate General for Scotland. The university highlighted that the honorees were chosen for their “profound and positive impact within their professions and wider society.” Additional recipients will be recognized at the university’s summer and winter graduation events, featuring musicians such as Deacon Blue and Eddi Reader.
Ncuti Gatwa, who portrayed the Doctor in the show for two seasons, will receive the title of Doctor of the University. Similarly, Sarah Smith, currently the BBC’s North America editor, will also be awarded this distinction. Baroness Catherine Smith, a graduate of the university’s history program, will be honored with the same title. Glasgow’s Lord Provost, Jacqueline McLaren, will also join the list of honorary graduates.
Stuart Murdoch, whose musical career with Belle & Sebastian spans decades, will be conferred a Doctor of Music. Other notable recipients include Professor Guido Tabellini, who will earn a Doctor of Letters, and Dr Stuart Campbell, an emeritus professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at King’s College London, who will receive a Doctor of Science.
“Commemoration Day provides an opportunity to reflect on our remarkable history,” said Prof Andy Schofield, principal and vice chancellor of the university. “Honorary degrees allow us to celebrate individuals whose achievements have left a transformative influence in their fields and beyond. Their work continues to inspire our community, and I am thrilled to welcome them into the Glasgow university fold during this milestone.”
