Recognition for his championing of language

Eddie Izzard picked up an honorary degree from York St John University.

He was awarded a Doctor of Letters, which he joked he called a Doctorate of Lettuce as he was dyslexic.

The degree, awarded by Archbishop John Sentamu at York Minster, recognises the comedian’s work championing language, having performed his stand-up comedy in French, German and Spanish.

He was also honoured for his charity work, raising £2.6 million for Sport Relief running 27 marathons in 27 days in South Africa as a tribute to Nelson Mandela, and

Izzard – who will be going on a world tour in 2019 – said he did not think of himself as an intellectual, explaining: I have the gift of a fair amount of intelligence, from my mum and dad, but if the definition of an academic is someone who loves understanding, then I am that. I do love trying to understand things.

‘I love pushing the boundaries of knowledge. And, if we can get more knowledge and real facts in a time when certain presidents of America are coming up with lies and trying to pretend that they are the truth, we need to lock down what the truth is, what real stuff is, what real information is.’

The staunch European also said he thought a second referendum on EU membership was ‘inevitable’.

‘I think a lot people who voted Leave are now seeing how negative things have been going in the last two years, how difficult it is to smash everything up, and that we’re going to make people poorer in this country,’ he said. ‘So a second referendum, a People’s Vote, is inevitable.’

Izzard dropped out of his original accountancy degree at University of Sheffield.

Published: 21 Nov 2018