Phill Jupitus, the comedian and star of Never Mind the Buzzcocks, has been awarded an honorary degree by South East Essex College as he joined further and higher education students at the merged college’s first graduation ceremony. “The subject of honorary degrees came up when I was filming an episode of QI,” said Jupitus. “As you might expect, Stephen Fry was top with seven and Alan Davies had two, while I was proud to say my big day was coming soon in Southend. It is the perfect way to celebrate 25 years in showbusiness and made all the more special by my being honoured in the town that I call home.”