Doctor Two
Connolly gets second honorary degree
Billy Connolly is to pick up a second honorary degree.
The comic – who left school at 15 – was awarded a doctorate of letters by Glasgow University in 2001.
And now he is to receive a second doctorate from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Former Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox and actress Tilda Swinton will also collect honorary degrees at the Glasgow school’s graduation ceremony today.
And the Big Yin is not the only comedian picking up an honorary doctorate today, as Dave Gorman is being given the title at Staffordshire University.
He dropped out of his Manchester University maths degree in 1990 after deciding his future lay in comedy.
But now the Staffordshire institution wants to recognise his ‘contribution to mathematics through his professional work’.
Writing on his website, Gorman said: ‘This is a quite ridiculous state of affairs but a delightful one all the same.’
He said he thought his contribution to maths ‘was approximately nought,’ but added: ‘Don't trust my calculations, I'm a drop-out.’
Published: 4 Jul 2006
