The poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan was among six people distinguished in their field who have been awarded honorary degrees at the July graduation ceremonies.
Described by the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy as “world class”, Ian McMillan is a popular poet and broadcaster. His work as a literary performer, teacher and host – both on radio and television – has been entertaining and inspiring to readers, listeners and students for many years.
Author of several books for adults and children, radio comedies, dramas and stage plays, he has also demonstrated a commitment to taking poetry far beyond the classroom and lecture hall, as poet-in- resident for Barnsley Football Club, Northern Spirit Trains and Humberside Police.
Ian has presented BBC Radio 3’s literary cabaret The Verb for over a decade, and he has worked extensively for BBC Radio as well as for Yorkshire Television and BBC2’s Newsnight Review.
He was the subject of a South Bank Show documentary in 2007. The following year he published Talking Myself Home: My Life in Verses and in 2010 he was the castaway on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs.