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Sir Patrick Stewart made an unexpected visit to the University of Huddersfield – a week after the end of filming for his new Star Trek spin-off series.

Mirfield-born Sir Patrick, now Emeritus Chancellor at the university, is making a return to the small screen as former Star Trek captain Jean-Luc Picard.

The Hollywood star, a previous Chancellor, was given a tour of the new £30 million Barbara Hepworth Building, home to the university’s School of Art, Design and Architecture and over 2,000 students.

Sir Patrick returned to the UK after filming ‘Star Trek: Picard’ in the United States and rang up the university saying he was “just passing” and wanted to pop in.

Sir Patrick was impressed by the facilities which are amongst the most advanced in the country.

“We’re always delighted to welcome Sir Patrick to the university,” said vice-chancellor Bob Cryan.

During his visit Sir Patrick spoke about his return to the role of Picard, captain of the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Sir Patrick, now 79, said: “I don’t regard it as going back. In fact, we are definitely moving the series forward and that’s what made the difference for me.

(Image: Huddersfield Daily Examiner)

“It was a very difficult decision,” admitted the Shakespearean actor, who turned down the role twice.

He was eventually persuaded when the producers explained in detail how they were going to progress the series and that it would be a vastly different world for the former starship captain and far from a walk down memory lane.

The new series – to be broadcast on US channel CBS All Access – is set 20 years after the last moment of The Next Generation, which ran from 1987 to 1994. No date has yet been set for its release.

Sir Patrick describes Picard as a man who has undergone disappointment, trauma and serious loss and, at first, is not remotely the same man as he was.

(Image: Huddersfield Daily Examiner)

“We are looking at a new world with new objectives, problems and issues that could not have been raised when we were making The Next Generation and I found that very exciting,” said Sir Patrick, who viewed the first three episodes. “It’s very exciting and people will be surprised and perhaps even shocked.”

And will we see him back on stage? “Oh yes!” came the answer.

“I am not giving up my stage work, though it may have to wait for now because there are three projects that I have finished, two films and the TV series, which all need promotion.

“So I am clearing the decks for that and then there is also the possibility of a second Picard series filming in March next year.”