Scottish literary star Val McDermid awarded honorary degree
McDermid will be created an honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Edinburgh's School of Literature, Languages & Cultures during this afternoon's ceremony, following a laureation from the University's Director of Marketing and Communications, Theresa Merrick.
The award is given in recognition of her contribution to writing and broadcasting, and in celebration of her success as an author and ambassador for Scottish literature worldwide.
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McDermid attended Kirkcaldy High School before graduating in English from St Hilda's College, Oxford University - the first student from a Scottish state school to do so - before going on to work as an award-winning journalist for 16 years before beginning her writing career.
She has written five book series, stand-alone novels, books for children, short story collections and non-fiction titles, publishing over 50 books to date. She is a leading proponent of crime fiction and its sub-genre 'tartan noir' and will publish the 8th edition of her popular 'Karen Pirie' series in October 2025.
She has also written novels set in range of other worlds, notably drawing on her own experience in journalism to create her recent 'Allie Burns' series, featuring a fictional investigative journalist working for a Scottish newspaper.
McDermid has also written extensively for stage, microphone and screen, with several acclaimed dramas broadcast on BBC Radio 4, including five series of comedy-crime serial Dead.
She is an experienced broadcaster and cultural commentator, having guest edited BBC Radio 4's Front Row, fronted features for BBC Two's cultural programming, written and presented radio documentaries, and appeared on a range of TV shows, including Question Time and Have I Got News for You.
Val McDermid (Image: Philippe Matsas Bridgeman Images) Val captained the winning alumnae team for Oxford on the 2016 University Challenge Christmas special and is a previous Celebrity Mastermind champion.
More recently, she has returned to writing for the theatre with Margaret Saves Scotland for Oran Mor's acclaimed A Play, Pie and Pint programme. She has also created two series of TV drama Traces, starring Martin Compston, which aired on BBC One in 2021 and 2022.
McDermid is the recipient of many awards and accolades, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award. She is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Literature and Royal Society of Edinburgh.
She has served as a judge for both the Man Booker Prize and Women's Prize for Fiction and was Chair of the Wellcome Book Prize in 2017. She has participated at arts and book festivals all over the world, notably appearing regularly at Edinburgh's Festivals, and plays an active role in Scottish civic society.
McDermid is the recipient of eight Honorary Doctorates, including Edinburgh's, is an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford and Professor of Scottish Studies & Crime Fiction at the University of Otago.
She is Patron of the Scottish Book Trust, and as a lifelong football fan, a founding sponsor of McDermid Ladies football team, based in Kirkcaldy.
Val McDermid said: 'When I was a teenager in Fife more than half a century ago, the University of Edinburgh was a place of glamour and aspiration - and parties! I never imagined I would be the recipient of such an honour. To be awarded an honorary degree is a distinction that reflects not just on my work but on the teachers, writers, publishers, booksellers and readers who have supported me on my way. I'm grateful to all of them, and of course, to the University.'
Theresa Merrick, University of Edinburgh Director of Marketing & Communications, said: 'Val McDermid is one of the best-selling and internationally acclaimed writers of her generation. Today we celebrate and honour Val for her literary prowess and her commitment to speaking out on issues of significance, inequality and social justice. She has championed writers, artists and individuals in Scotland and beyond, and has long used her profile and talent to speak for those who may not have such a strong voice. We offer congratulations and thanks to Val on all her achievements.'
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