The University of Warwick awarded an Honorary Doctorate to renowned comedian Alex Horne for his contributions to widening participation. Alex, of Taskmaster fame, played a key role in the success of the University’s ‘School Tasking’ project.
School Tasking is the brainchild of Warwick Law’s Dr Ali Struthers. It brings law into primary schools, with fun and interactive learning sessions to encourage an interest in both the subject and in Higher Education. Each ‘task’ the children are set is presented by the comedian in videos created especially for the project.
On graduation day (Monday 15th Jan) Alex spent the morning running a session with 30 children from a local Coventry school. To kick things off, the children took part in a treasure hunt, and after following the clues around the University’s award-winning FAB building, they discovered the comedian hidden away in a top-floor room.
After meeting with the Vice Chancellor, Professor Stuart Croft, Alex took to the stage and received the honour from Chancellor, Baroness Ashton of Upholland.
Alex Horne said: “I’m being given this doctorate because I’ve supported a programme that other people have been far more responsible for (and by other people, I mainly mean Dr Ali Struthers).
There are some genuine doctors in my family, so it’s hilarious for me to get an honorary one. Greg [James] has already got a doctorate, so he’s quite annoyed as well. So it’s great to make people feel unhappy.
And yet, I am very happy to accept it, partly because it’s a wonderful thing but also because I do so on behalf of Ali and her team and everyone who works on Taskmaster, and anyone who, like me, is worried that they don’t know what they’re going to do next.”
Dr Ali Struthers said: “Alex’s support for School Tasking has been integral to its growth and its ability to reach thousands of children each year.
“All of us involved truly appreciate him taking time out of his mind-bogglingly busy schedule to make the project that little bit more special for all of the children involved.
“And I, in particular, will always be additionally indebted to him. I have no doubt that he played a fairly significant role in me NOT getting sued by the production company.”
