A five-time BAFTA award-winning comedian has been recognised by the University of Central Lancashire, his ‘local’ university.

Steve Pemberton, best known for co-creating, co-writing and acting in The League of Gentlemen, received an Honorary Fellowship from UCLan.

Steve, who was born in Blackburn and raised in Chorley, also co-created and starred in Inside No.9 and Psychoville.

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He was recognised for his significant contribution to acting, writing and direction.

He took to the graduation stage in Preston and gained laughs throughout his acceptance speech, delivering the line, “The University of Central Lancashire is a local university for local people” in the character voice of Tubbs Tattsyrup.

He added: “For me to be here in Preston, coming to get an Honorary Fellowship in my local university, makes me really proud.

“I know about the University, I’ve got a lot of family here so I’m really proud to be coming back home as it’s a local boy made good.”

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Steve and his long-time collaborator Reece Shearsmith co-created, co-wrote and co-acted the surreal British comedy horror sitcom The League of Gentlemen, in the late 1990s. 

The ambassador for Derian House Children’s Hospice also co-wrote and starred in the dark comedies Psychoville, which ran for two series between 2009 and 2011, and Inside No. 9, which was first broadcast in 2014. 

He has appeared in a range of huge television dramas and comedies, including Doctor Who, Happy Valley, Killing Eve, Benidorm, Whitechapel and Blackpool.

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He offered a few words of advice to the graduates: “One of the best pieces of advice I was given was think of it as a marathon, not a sprint. 

“Don’t worry, especially in the arts, if you’re not making it straight away. You’re going to have a long career ahead of you. 

“Some people will spend longer setting the bedrock of their career and other people will be successful early on, but you’ve got to have resilience.”

See Steve discuss accepting his award below or on the UCLan YouTube channel.

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