Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa to receive honorary doctorate

Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa to receive honorary doctorate

The University of Glasgow will honor Doctor Who actor Ncuti Gatwa and Belle and Sebastian musician Stuart Murdoch with honorary degrees later this year. These awards will take place during a ceremony on June 17, commemorating the institution’s 575th anniversary since its founding in 1451.

Alongside Gatwa, other recipients include Sarah Smith, BBC’s North America editor, and her younger sister, Baroness Catherine Smith, who serves as Scotland’s Advocate General. The university highlighted their selection for “a profound and positive impact within their professions and wider society.”

“Honorary degrees give us the opportunity to recognize individuals whose achievements have had a profound and positive impact within their professions and wider society. Their work embodies values that continue to inspire our community,” said Professor Andy Schofield, the university’s principal and vice chancellor.

Additional honorees will be celebrated at the summer and winter graduation ceremonies, featuring musicians like Deacon Blue and Eddi Reader. Gatwa, who portrayed the Doctor in the series for two seasons, will be awarded a Doctor of the University. Sarah Smith, a graduate of the university, will also receive the same distinction. Baroness Catherine Smith, who studied history at Glasgow and was appointed Advocate General in 2024, will share the honor. Jacqueline McLaren, the city’s Lord Provost, will also be inducted as a Doctor of the University.

Stuart Murdoch, the frontman of Belle & Sebastian since the 1990s, will be granted 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, receiving a Doctor of Science.