Honorary degree for Pulp singer

The singer studied at the institution when it was Sheffield Polytechnic

Former Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker is to receive an honorary degree from Sheffield Hallam University.

The 46-year-old singer will pick up the doctorate in his home city at a ceremony next month.

Cocker, who has also had success as a solo artist and radio producer, studied at the institution when it was Sheffield Polytechnic.

The singer said receiving the honour was "extra special" because of his links with the university.

Cocker completed an access course at the polytechnic which allowed him to go on to art college.

Peel session

He was described by the university as "one of Sheffield's best loved musical sons".

He said: "It is great to receive an honorary doctorate from a university in my home town, and the fact that I have also studied at the University makes it extra special."

Pulp received its first big break at Sheffield Polytechnic, when the band handed their demo tape to John Peel during one of his DJ sets there.

He later offered them a session on Radio 1.

The band went on to be nominated for a Mercury Music Prize in 1994 and the following year their single Common People reached number two in the charts.