Sir Derek Jacobi accepts Brunel honorary degree and applauds Shakespeare studies

Speaking at the degree congregation at the campus in Uxbridge, Sir Derek referred to the new “ground-breaking“ MA, in which students will be able to explore the long-standing debate about whether William Shakespeare from Stratford, was the real author of the work attributed to him.

“I am thrilled and proud to be associated with this university,“ he said. The master's degree in Shakespeare Authorship Studies “will focus on the highly emotive authorship question. It's an important, groundbreaking subject: to make the arguments for doubt freely accessible and to break the taboo by academics surrounding the issue. Brunel University is making it a subject for debate, research and discovery, which is the whole point of academia.“

Sir Derek, who is a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, won a Bafta TV Award in 1976 for his performance in I, Claudius. His honorary degree is in recognition of his services to the acting profession. The ceremony was followed by a “lecture“ by former Brunel University graduate and stand-up comedian, Jo Brand, who gave an entertaining, “X“-rated performance.

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