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An actor who starred in Doctor Who returned to the University of Central Lancashire, her former university, to receive a special educational award.
Mandip Gill, who studied at UCLan between 2006 and 2009, received an Honorary Fellowship on Thursday 11 July.
The award-winning star was recognised for her significant contribution to acting.
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Mandip played the role of Yasmin Khan in Doctor Who for three series. She was the companion to the 13th Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, alongside Bradley Walsh.
She said: “It’s an absolute honour to be recognised for my career.
“Everyone does their degree and you go off and hope that you get work after so it just feels like an honour to celebrate something I absolutely love and have worked so hard towards.”
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During her time on the iconic global hit, she won several awards, including the Breakout Talent prize and the 2018 Radio Times’ Readers Awards.
Mandip’s professional career started with several theatre productions and in 2012 she landed her first major television role in Hollyoaks where she portrayed Phoebe McQueen in 242 episodes.
Her other small screen appearances include Doctors, Casualty, The Good Karma Hospital, and Suspicion.
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Mandip accepted the award on the graduation stage from TV presenter and University Chancellor Ranvir Singh, she said: “It is truly an honour to be recognised for my career but it could never have happened without my education and especially without the University of Central Lancashire.
“The entertainment industry in the UK was not where it is now 15 years ago, it was not as open-minded and forward thinking.
“The lecturers, Terrence Mann, Helen Tolson and the late Philip Wood need special mentions, helped me pick my battles as I prepared to leave my education as a working class, northern, woman of colour. They looked past all that and helped me realise my potential. They went above and beyond to prepare me for the industry.”
See Mandip discuss accepting her award below or on the UCLan YouTube channel
The actor has always kept in contact with the institution and has been happy to discuss her experiences and offer advice to the next generation of acting performers.
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