Uni honours for North East stars

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It is hoped that the honorary recipients will inspire graduates

North East-born stars of the big and small screen are among those to be honoured by a university.

TV presenter Lauren Laverne and actors Wendy Craig and Alun Armstrong are receiving honorary awards from Sunderland University.

Sunderland-born Lauren Laverne is receiving an honorary fellowship.

The two County Durham-born actors are receiving honorary doctorates of arts for their contribution to television and film.

Wendy Craig is well known from the television show Butterflies and more recently The Royal and The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin.

Significant contributions

Alun Armstrong has appeared in a string of productions including Get Carter, Sleepy Hollow and is currently being seen on television in New Tricks.

Lauren Laverne presents The Culture Show on television and a radio show on 6 Music.

The honorary awards are being presented alongside thousands of graduates from the university.

Also receiving honorary awards are Durham County Cricket coach Geoff Cook, historian and film-maker Michael Wood and Alice in Sunderland author Bryan Talbot.

Former top civil servant Sir Peter Carr, entrepreneur Duncan Goose, police officer Gary Shaw and businessman John Wood are also honoured.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Fidler said: "Our honoraries have all made highly significant contributions within their fields and will inspire our graduates as they celebrate their academic success and embark on their careers."