Acclaimed actors Mark Gatiss and Gina McKee are among the leading figures in the arts, broadcasting, law and science receiving honorary Durham degrees this summer.
Mark Gatiss, from Sedgefield in County Durham, UK, is best known as a founding member of the comedy programme The League of Gentlemen and as co-creator of the award-winning BBC series Sherlock, in which he played Mycroft Holmes.
BAFTA-winning actor Gina McKee, from Peterlee also in County Durham, starred in hit films including Notting Hill and Atonement, along with many award-winning television and theatre productions.
Other notable figures receiving honorary degrees this July are pioneering broadcasters David Shukman and Lorraine Heggessey, law experts (Dato’) Faiz Azmi and Dapo Akande, and charity campaigner Becky Rogerson.
David Shukman and Lorraine Heggessey are Durham alumni who went on to become broadcasting pioneers.
David has enjoyed a stellar journalistic career culminating in his appointment as the BBC’s first science editor.
Lorraine was the first woman to be Controller of BBC One in 2000 - and the channel became the most popular in Britain under her leadership.
Fellow Durham alum (Dato’) Faiz Azmi will receive an honorary degree in Civil Law for his leading work in international law.
(Dato’) Faiz is the Executive Chairman of the Securities Commission Malaysia and has worked as an auditor to major banking and conglomerate groups in Malaysia.
Also being made a Doctor of Civil Law is Dapo Akande, a world-renowned academic and lawyer specialising in international law.
Dapo completed a Law lectureship with us from 2000-2004 and is now the Chichele Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford, UK.
Meanwhile, charity campaigner Becky Rogerson will be made a Doctor of Science.
Becky became the Chief Executive of My Sister’s Place, a domestic abuse charity in Middlesbrough, in 2002, then led Wearside Women in Need from 2018.
Both charities make a real difference to the lives of people in North East England and Becky has also made an enormous contribution to our Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse.
All our honorary graduates will attend our summer Congregation ceremonies held at Durham Cathedral between July 2 and 9, 2025, joining thousands of graduating students across six days of celebrations.
Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Karen O’Brien said: “It is a privilege to welcome this year’s honorary graduates.
“They are exceptional individuals whose achievements have had a profound impact in their fields and beyond.
“They reflect the values we hold dear as a University: excellence, creativity, integrity and making a positive difference in the world.
“As our students graduate and begin the next chapter of their journeys, they can look to these distinguished figures as role models and draw encouragement from the diverse paths they have forged.”
Main image shows, from left, Dapo Akande, David Shukman, Mark Gatiss, Gina McKee, Lorraine Heggessey, Becky Rogerson and (Dato’) Faiz Azmi.
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