Honorary graduates

2008

Mariella Frostrup

Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of her outstanding contribution and commitment to journalism and broadcasting.

Mariella FrostrupCelebrated arts journalist and critic, Mariella Frostrup has written on many topics for publications such as Harmers and Queen, the Sunday Times, and New Statesman. For several years she has been dispensing good advice through the Observer's problem page. She is a versatile presenter on radio and television, with a friendly and intelligent style.

Mariella was born in Norway but moved with her parents to Ireland as a young child. Her father was a journalist. Her early working life, in the 1980's, was in public relations in the music industry, alongside bands such as UB40, Soft Cell and Bananarama. She began her broadcasting career in current affairs with Channel 4's Big World and later appeared on other channels and branched into radio. Programmes are as diverse as Going for a Song (antiques), a Sky series on cinema, her own Channel 5 chat show and the BBC Radio 2 arts show, The Green Room. Her BBC radio 4 Open Book showcases new fiction and non-fiction and she has served on judging panels for Booker, Orange and other publishing awards.