COMEDIAN Bob Mortimer will collect an honorary degree from Teesside University as part of this year's graduation celebrations.

The Middlesbrough funnyman will join one of the inventors of ibuprofen and the English table tennis European champion to be honoured at the graduation ceremonies, to be held in November and December.

Mr Mortimer, best known for his double act with Vic Reeves, went to Acklam High School and his younger days had trials for Middlesbrough FC.

The former solicitor, who moved into comedy in the late 1980s, is still an avid Boro fan and sang the team's official FA Cup song, Let's Dance, when they reached the final in 1997. He owns an independent production company and is a writer, performer and producer.

Mr Mortimer is best known for TV shows such as Reeves and Mortimer, Shooting Stars and House of Fools.

Other people to receive an honorary degree are:

*World-renowned Middlesbrough artist William Tillyer, who has exhibited all over the world, and this year exhibited at mima;

*Alison Thain, group chief executive of housing association Thirteen and a former university governor;

*Orthopaedic surgeon David Muckle, a Teesside University visiting professor who was part of the team which invented ibuprofen. He is also medical adviser to the Football Association;

*Sandy Anderson, former chair of the Teesside University Board of Governors;

*Alan Ransome, table tennis champion;

*Judge Gilliam Matthews QC, the first ever female QC to come from Middlesbrough

and one of only two women in the country to be a designated civil judge;

*Professor James Caldwell, former Teesside University student, now a leading global mathematician;

*Richard Barker, chairman of Barker and Stonehouse, the largest family-owned furniture company in the UK;

Professor Graham Henderson, Vice-Chancellor of Teesside University, said: “It really is going to be a huge privilege to award honorary degrees to such a diverse and talented group of people.

"I know our students will enjoy sharing their success with such influential individuals, and role models, and I am sure that they will all prove to be great ambassadors for our University and its community.”