- Playwright Lucy Prebble has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters at the University of Sheffield
- University of Sheffield alumna Prebble has been recognised for her successful career and outstanding achievements as a writer for the stage and screen
- She is one of 11 honorary graduands being recognised at this summer’s graduation ceremonies including the poet, journalist, playwright and broadcaster, Ian McMillan, Co-CEO of Sheffield-based video games creator Sumo Group, Gary Dunn, former cricketer and cricket commentator, Urooj Mumtaz Khan and competition climber Shauna Coxsey
- Lucy Prebble will be joined more than 5,000 students celebrating their graduations in ceremonies at the University of Sheffield from 21-25 July 2025
Playwright Lucy Prebble has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Sheffield, in recognition of her successful career and outstanding achievements as a writer for the stage and screen.
Prebble was awarded a Doctor of Letters at a graduation ceremony today (Monday 21 July 2025), celebrating her achievement along with over 5,000 students from across the University also receiving their degrees this week.
During this summer’s graduation ceremonies, 11 notable public figures, including Prebble, will be awarded honorary degrees, including the poet, journalist, playwright and broadcaster, Ian McMillan, Co-CEO of Sheffield-based video games creator Sumo Group, Gary Dunn, former cricketer and cricket commentator, Urooj Mumtaz Khan and competition climber Shauna Coxsey.
Prebble’s successful career as an award-winning writer for theatre, television, games and film was forged in Sheffield, where she graduated with a BA in English Literature from the University in 2002, later going on to receive a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014.
Whilst she was still a student at Sheffield, Prebble wrote her first short play which received an award at the National Student Drama Festival. Following this, she was awarded a George Devine Award for Most Promising Playwright in 2003, for her professional debut as a playwright with The Sugar Syndrome.
Since then her work, which is renowned for tackling big themes, including political assassinations, the financial crash, and drugs trials, have continued to garner critical acclaim and recognition, including three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Critics’ Circle Theatre Award and nominations for a BAFTA and two Laurence Olivier Awards. In 2019 she also received a Wellcome Screenwriting Fellowship and is now a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Her theatre work has taken Prebble’s career from the West End in London, to Broadway in New York and includes the critically acclaimed 2019 adaption of the non-fiction book, A Very Expensive Poison, about the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko which was nominated and won numerous awards. Her notable television work includes the series Secret Diary of a Call Girl for ITV2, I Hate Suzie for Sky Atlantic, and working as an executive producer and writer on the HBO drama Succession.
As a former student of the University of Sheffield, and desperately insecure member of SUTCO, the Sheffield University Theatre Company, I am honoured and delighted to be recognised in this way.
My heart was forged in Sheffield. Some folk find their people in childhood, others late in life, but I found mine at university, here. I never knew that art could be a way of life before I studied literature here and I never knew that friends could change your life, and mind, the way mine did here. I never knew a city could feel so friendly but punch so hard, historically, culturally, politically, musically. This place was a beginning for me. Thank you for all this, Sheffield. I can never repay you.
Lucy Prebble
Playwright
Professor Koen Lamberts, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: “Since Lucy graduated from Sheffield with an English Literature degree, she has gone on to have an extraordinary career writing for stage and screen. We are so proud of her countless achievements, and it is fantastic to welcome her back to her alma mater to recognise her remarkable talent and success. All of our honorary graduates have made exceptional contributions across their respective fields, and are brilliant ambassadors for our University. I would like to thank them for inspiring our graduates as they begin the next chapter of their lives.”
Lucy Prebble is joined by a host of other honorary graduates this week, who are all being recognised for their own significant and outstanding contributions to their chosen fields, including:
Dr Urooj Mumtaz Khan
Dr Urooj Khan will be awarded a Doctor of Letters in recognition of her achievements in the field of cricket and the work she has done to raise its visibility amongst girls.
Urooj is a Pakistani cricket commentator and former cricketer with a total of 48 international appearances. She captained the Pakistan team during the 2009 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and in 2019 was head of the first all-women selection panel for the women’s team. She combines her life in professional cricket with her career as a dentist, graduating from the University of Sheffield with an MMedSci in Restorative Dentistry (2011).
Shauna Coxsey
Shauna Coxsey will be awarded a Doctor of Letters in recognition of her outstanding career both as a climber and ambassador for women in sport.
Shauna is one of the most successful competition climbers in the UK. She is a two-time overall World Cup winner in her favoured bouldering discipline, and she was the first competitor to be selected by Team GB when sport climbing debuted at the Tokyo Olympics. She founded the Women’s Climbing Symposium in 2011 to connect, develop and inspire the women’s international climbing community. Based in Sheffield, she received an MBE in 2016 for services to climbing.
Ian McMillan
Ian McMillan will be awarded a Doctor of Letters in recognition of his outstanding career in broadcasting and poetry and the distinction he’s brought to the South Yorkshire region.
Ian is a poet, journalist, playwright and broadcaster, best known for his strong and distinctive Yorkshire accent and his warm, incisive style of interviewing. He presents a weekly poetry programme, The Verb, on BBC Radio 4 and is a regular contributor to BBC Breakfast, Coast and Today. He’s been a castaway on Desert Island Discs and a subject of The South Bank Show. He’s also been poet-in-residence for Barnsley FC. A familiar face at Sheffield's Off the Shelf Festival of Words, delivered by the University, Ian McMillan has been a cherished friend of the festival for many years, appearing at numerous events throughout its 34-year history.
Gary Dunn
Gary Dunn will be awarded a Doctor of Engineering in recognition of his achievements in the digital and video games field.
Gary is Chief Operating Officer and co-CEO of Sumo Group, the Sheffield-based, multi-award-winning video games creator and publisher. Sumo has been awarded the highest 3 Star Accreditation in the Best Companies Survey for the last three years, and has won numerous industry awards and the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. A graduate of the University of Sheffield (BEng Electronic Engineering 1991), he volunteers his expertise to support the development of engineering courses at the University of Sheffield.
Also receiving honorary Doctors of Letters this week are:
- Diana Springall, a leading British advocate for the art of embroidery in recognition of her outstanding career as a textile artist.
- Susanna Chiu, an internationally recognised expert in information systems audit, software consulting, system implementation and business management, for her professional achievements in business and their passionate support of the university and its community.
- Peter Barber, architect instrumental in reshaping the landscape of social housing in recognition of his exceptional career in the field of architecture.
- Scott Beaumont, University of Sheffield alumni previously President of Google Greater China and Korea, in recognition of his outstanding career and achievements in business.
- Frances Ryan, award-winning journalist, author and campaigner in recognition of her promotion of inclusivity and equality, through activism for people living with disability and chronic illness.
- Dr Wanda Thomas Bernard, Senator for Nova Scotia in the Upper House of the Parliament of Canada since 2016, in recognition of her outstanding achievements as a social worker and community activist.
