Actors, writers and cultural leaders recognised by Northumbria University
Summer graduations will celebrate contributions to television, film, literature, science, sport, communication and the wider cultural life of the region
Actor Jill Halfpenny, screenwriter Peter Straughan and writer Michael Chaplin are among the North East cultural figures set to receive honorary degrees from Northumbria University this summer.
The university has announced 14 honorary graduates for 2026, recognising contributions across culture, sport, science, business and education.
Gateshead-born Jill will receive an Honorary Doctor of Letters in recognition of her work in television and theatre, which began as a teenager on Byker Grove and has since included an Olivier Award-winning stage career alongside roles in some of British television’s best-known dramas.
Fellow Gateshead native Straughan, who won an Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA in 2025 for his screenplay adaptation of Conclave, will also receive an Honorary Doctor of Letters. The writer is also known for his work on Wolf Hall and for his long-standing support of the North East’s creative sector.
Joining them is writer Michael Chaplin, whose work across theatre, radio, television and non-fiction has chronicled North East lives and landscapes for more than 50 years.
Other cultural figures being recognised include Linda Conlon, chief executive of Centre for Life; author and entrepreneur Chris K Jones; and costume designer Claire Lynch, a Northumbria graduate best known for her work on Call the Midwife.
Professor Andy Long, Vice-Chancellor and chief executive of Northumbria University, said: “Honorary degrees recognise the very best of what people can achieve, and this year’s recipients embody that in every sense - outstanding individuals, innovators and trailblazers who have reached the highest levels of their fields.”
The honorary degrees will be presented during Northumbria’s summer graduation ceremonies, which run from July 8-15.