Holmes receives honorary degree

Eamonn Holmes has received an honorary degree

Belfast-born broadcaster Eamonn Holmes has received an honorary degree from Queen's University Belfast.

Holmes was awarded a doctorate for services to broadcasting during the first of three graduation ceremonies held at the university on Monday.

After attending St Malachy's College in Belfast and the Belfast College of Business, he became the youngest news anchorman in the ITV regions at 21.

In 1986 he helped launch daytime television on BBC One, with the daily phone-in programme Open Air.

More recently he has presented BBC's Holiday programme, GMTV's Breakfast show and can now be seen on the National Lottery Jet Set and the Sky News Sunrise programme.

Speaking at the ceremony in the Whitla Hall, the 46-year-old personality said he was thrilled to receive the accolade.

"I often gazed at the lovely red brick facade of Queen's and wondered 'what if', believing academic acknowledgement had passed me by," he said.

Queen's Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerry McCormac described Holmes as a "unique and remarkable man".

"Being himself is always what Eamonn Holmes has done best, and he has done it with humour, energy, intelligence and flair," he said.

"Although he's now a celebrity, he has never forgotten his roots. He has never forgotten his family, friends or indeed any of us who live here in Northern Ireland."