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BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Greg James receives honorary University of York doctorate
Radio 1 DJ Greg James said it had been a "fantastic day" as he received an honorary degree from the University of was chosen for the honour for his "remarkable contribution to society" and for championing mental health, according to the university's vice his connection with the institution also involves an unusually tall duck that became an online sensation and was regularly mentioned on the presenter's fondness for "Long Boi" saw him lead a memorial service and unveil a statue after its death. Other people being honoured by the University of York this year were Handmaid's Tale author Margaret Atwood and historian Greg said receiving his honorary degree had been "very thrilling"."I feel very proud to receive this and it was a real genuine delight to watch all those very clever people receiving their degrees and Masters."It was a fantastic day. It was very inspiring actually."He admitted to a few nerves ahead of his speech to his fellow graduates."It means a lot to all the people who were in there, that they'd done something really magical."All their family and friends are there and you don't want to mess it up." Long Boi, a 28in (70cm) cross between a mallard and an Indian runner duck, was regularly featured on James' show after gaining fame among students and is believed to have died in 2023 after vanishing from the admitted the initial idea of Britain's tallest duck had been too funny to resist and it had captured the listeners' attention."It spiralled into this ridiculous movement," he said."I love taking small things on the breakfast show and then taking them to their most ludicrous conclusion."And the ludicrous conclusion was doing a state funeral live on the Radio 1 breakfast show from the same hall where they give out the scrolls."He said he believed "silliness" could really cut through the "world beautifully, the absurd world, the sad bits of the world"."So it was about a dead duck but really it was about everyone being together and celebrating something silly."At the core of everything people want to laugh, that's the one thing that unites every single person." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Greg James: Radio 1 Breakfast host gets honorary degree from York
Radio 1 DJ Greg James is to receive an honorary degree from the University of York - where he once led a memorial service for a beloved campus tall mallard Long Boi became an online sensation due to his height, and was regularly mentioned on the presenter's weekday breakfast it was Greg who, last autumn, made a pilgrimage to the university to unveil a statue erected in Longboi's vice chancellor Charlie Jeffery says the presenter was chosen for his "remarkable contribution to society" and for championing mental health. Greg's relationship with York university and Longboi stretches back to 2022, when he first suggested co-presenting a show with the towering collaboration finally came to pass in March 2023, when Long Boi's quack was broadcast to millions of listeners over the just a few months later the campus mascot was reported missing and feared dead - sparking a campaign to erect the statue in his memory that Greg later he announced news of the honorary degree to listeners, he joked: "I'm getting a duck-torate. I'm going to be a duck-tor".Greg said he was "deeply honoured and flattered" to be chosen for the accolade alongside Handmaid's Tale author Margaret Atwood and historian Greg Jenner. Speaking to BBC Newsbeat, Greg says it was a "huge surprise" to receive a letter from the university inviting him to accept the honorary degree of doctor of the university."It took me a while to compose myself and write a formal reply that wasn't just 'yes, thank you," he says."I did it very calmly."York's vice chancellor said the university wanted to recognise Greg's "ability to connect with audiences on an emotional level" and make "a significant impact on countless lives but in particular those of young people"."I don't feel particularly deserving of a doctorate for that," says Greg."But I do like being a facilitator of fun."Greg is, however, a big advocate of the power of radio to reach audiences "in a world that feels increasingly divided". "Radio is a friend to people. It's a friend to me," he says. "It puts you in a community of people who are like-minded. "I love that I get to talk to millions of people every day and I love that we celebrate everyone's brains and everyone's differences." Greg, and the other honorary graduates, will be headed to the University of York to collect their degrees at the end of tells Newsbeat he's doing some "serious thinking" about his graduation to spoil anything, but you can expect Long Boi to feature heavily, as well as a "celebration of radio" and "people being together".And Greg also suggests that a quote from Pitbull - who regularly gets a mention on the presenter's show - might also be shouldn't have to look too hard, as the US rapper also also received an honorary degree in 2015 from Florida's Doral will also be Greg's second honorary degree after receiving one in 2015 at the University of East Anglia - eight years after missing his actual graduation ceremony. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
