Psychologist gets chancellor post

Dr Byron said accepting the post was a "no-brainer"

Television psychologist Dr Tanya Byron is to become chancellor of a Lancashire university.

The star of the BBC's Little Angels, which follows families with difficult children, will take up the role with Edge Hill University in Ormskirk.

Dr Byron worked in the NHS for nearly 20 years specialising in drug dependency, sexual health and eating disorders.

She said the honour was a "complete no-brainer and privilege to accept".

Dr Byron said: "When I found out that Edge Hill University began life as the first non-denominational teacher training college for women in 1885, I knew immediately that here was an institution rooted in profound and fundamental educational and social innovation and change.

"Edge Hill continues its pioneering and inspired educational tradition, first set down over 123 years ago.

"It was an honour to be asked to be the first chancellor of this fantastic university and a complete no-brainer and privilege to accept."

'Inspire students'

The institution was given university status in May 2006.

John Cater, Edge Hill's vice chancellor, said: "Not only is Dr Byron instantly recognisable from her television work, she is also a respected practitioner in the health, education and social care fields, with a long history of clinical practice.

"I know that her appointment will inspire our students."

Dr Byron has recently conducted a review which investigated the risks children faced from exposure to harmful or inappropriate material on the internet or in video games.

She recommended that the role of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) be expanded to cover computer games.