Different class - Cocker to receive honorary degree

13 July 2011 Last updated at 09:43 GMT The reformed Pulp are currently on a tour that takes in Europe and Australia Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker is to receive an honorary degree from University of the Arts London.

Cocker, whose reformed band played a surprise set at Glastonbury this year, studied fine art and film at Central Saint Martins, part of the university.

The university said he "immortalised" the college in his song Common People.

Guitarist Jeff Beck, artist Anthony Eyton and architect Zaha Hadid will also be honoured at eight graduation ceremonies across four days next week.

Pulp's 1995 hit Common People opens with the line: "She came from Greece she had a thirst for knowledge, she studied sculpture at Saint Martins College."

Whitechapel Art Gallery director Iwona Blazwick, BBC News director Helen Boaden and Cheek By Jowl theatre company founder Declan Donnellan will also be recognised.

Sculptor and former Royal Academy president Phillip King, Bafta-winning sound recordist Chris Watson, and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle - who won an Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire - are also among those to receive honorary degrees.

Cocker will receive his honour before an audience of graduating students at the Royal Festival Hall on 20 July.

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Honorary award for Jools Holland

26 June 2011 Last updated at 23:48 GMT Holland was awarded an OBE in 2003

Presenter Jools Holland is to be honoured for his contribution to music and broadcasting.

The 53-year-old will receive the Music Industry Trusts' Award at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on 7 November.

Chairman of the award committee, David Munns, said they were looking for "someone special for our 20th anniversary".

"There is no one in the UK more associated with popularising music than Jools," he added.

More than 1,000 guests will attend the charity event in aid of Nordoff Robbins and the BRIT Trust.

Previous recipients of the award include Sir Tom Jones, Sir Elton John and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Other past recipients have included Beatles producer Sir George Martin, James Bond composer John Barry and Ahmet Ertegun, co-founder of Atlantic Records.

Lifelong passion

Holland, whose careers has spanned some 30 years, said it was "wonderful to be honoured".

"My lifelong passion is music, and I've been so lucky to be able to indulge this for more years than I care to think about."

The musician started playing piano at an early age, and was a founding member of the group Squeeze in 1974. In 1987, he formed his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, which continues to tour today.

He has presented Later... With Jools Holland since 1992, and was awarded an OBE in 2003 for his services to the British music industry.

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