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Amanda Holden given Honorary Doctorate by her drama school


Amanda Holden has received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Mountview Drama School. 

The TV personality, 48, made the exciting announcement on her Instagram platform on Wednesday as she shared a boomerang clip alongside this year’s graduating class while clad in a orange graduation robe and cap.

Amanda, who graduated from the drama school back in 1992, was so thrilled with her achievement that she also updated her Instagram biography to ‘Dr Amanda Holden!’ 

‘Dr Mandy will see you now!’ Amanda Holden, 48, has received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Mountview Drama School

Sharing the clip to her 1.3million followers, Amanda wrote in the caption: ‘Today I had the great privilege of being awarded an honorary doctorate of letters from my incredible drama school @mountviewldn where I graduated in 1992.

‘Thrilled to have shared the day with these talented students ♥️ Dr Mandy Holden will see you now ☺️,’ she concluded.  

Amanda could be seen in her short video standing with the ecstatic students as they executed the tradition of throwing their graduation caps in the air.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, she also shared a solo snap of herself from the big day, which she caption: ‘Dr Holden! @mountviewldn.’

‘Privilege’: The TV star made the announcement on Instagram on Wednesday as she shared a clip alongside this year’s graduating class while clad in a orange graduation robe and cap

'Thrilled to share with the talented students': Amanda gushed about the 'privilege' of being awarded the honour during the big day

‘Thrilled to share with the talented students’: Amanda gushed about the ‘privilege’ of being awarded the honour during the big day

'Dr.Amanda Holden!' The star, who graduated from the drama school back in 1992, was so thrilled with her achievement that she also updated her Instagram biography

‘Dr.Amanda Holden!’ The star, who graduated from the drama school back in 1992, was so thrilled with her achievement that she also updated her Instagram biography

Amazing: Amanda was grinning from ear to ear as she accepted the prestigious honour from her alma mater

Amazing: Amanda was grinning from ear to ear as she accepted the prestigious honour from her alma mater

Amanda has had a career for over 27 years in the entertainment industry and moved into radio this year, launching the national Heart Breakfast show, alongside Jamie Theakston, which has become the biggest commercial radio station in the UK with 4.6 million listeners.

She also made a return to scripted comedy appearing in ITV 2’s Plebs.  

Speaking about her honour the star said: ‘Well, Dr. Mandy will most certainly see you now. Oh that sounds good, Dr. Mandy. Now I guess I can prescribe myself, oh how I could have done with that early in my career. 

‘I mean, little old me getting something like this. When I heard I was almost as surprised as when I watched Prince Andrew mention he popped into Pizza Express in Woking on the 10th March 2001!

‘Seriously though, this is an unbelievable honour. Remember, always, always pursue your dreams. You and your fellow Mountview students are coming from the best possible place to do that, especially with the incredible new building in Peckham that I visited this month. 

‘I have such fond memories of my time at Mountview, they really gave me the tools to do absolutely anything I wanted and I’ve never looked back. So go out there and show the world what you’ve got.’

Elated: Speaking about her honour the star said: 'Now I guess I can prescribe myself, oh how I could have done with that early in my career'

Elated: Speaking about her honour the star said: ‘Now I guess I can prescribe myself, oh how I could have done with that early in my career’

Over the moon: She added: 'Seriously though, this is an unbelievable honour. Remember, always, always pursue your dreams'

Over the moon: She added: ‘Seriously though, this is an unbelievable honour. Remember, always, always pursue your dreams’

Nostalgia: 'I have such fond memories of my time at Mountview, they really gave me the tools to do absolutely anything I wanted and I’ve never looked back,' Amanda went onto say

Nostalgia: ‘I have such fond memories of my time at Mountview, they really gave me the tools to do absolutely anything I wanted and I’ve never looked back,’ Amanda went onto say

She continued: ‘Life is tough and what we do is provide people with an escape… just for a short time. 

‘I’m not claiming that our craft is the panacea for all ills, I’d never do that, mainly because I don’t know what panacea means, but from the beginning of time there has been a need for people to express themselves artistically – yes, we are the modern day equivalent of cave drawings – but that need is what allows the world to breathe, to take some time to interpret the chaos and, quite simply, to just experience some joy. 

‘As Picasso said, Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.’

Riding high: In an inspiring message to the guests in attendance Amanda added: 'Life is tough and what we do is provide people with an escape… just for a short time'

Riding high: In an inspiring message to the guests in attendance Amanda added: ‘Life is tough and what we do is provide people with an escape… just for a short time’

Lovely: Amanda couldn't stop smiling in her honorary gown

Exciting: She took to the podium to proudly accept her doctorate

Lovely: Amanda couldn’t stop smiling in her honorary gown as she took to the podium to proudly accept her doctorate

Stephen Jameson, Principal and Artistic Director of Mountview, said: “Mountview’s honorary degrees are awarded to individuals of distinction in the arts. It is fantastic to be able to celebrate Amanda’s full and varied career since graduating from Mountview. 

‘A familiar face on screen onstage and now on air Amanda epitomises the type of career that can grow out of the training that we are so proud to offer at Mountview.’ 

An Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters is usually awarded to those who have distinguished themselves in the humanities field, have a long list of achievements in the industry and have made general contributions to society.  

After being put in drama lessons by her mother at the age of nine, Amanda graduated in 1992 from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, which is based in Peckham, South London.  

Throwback! Amanda had her first brush with fame after appearing as a contestant on Blind Date in 1991

Throwback! Amanda had her first brush with fame after appearing as a contestant on Blind Date in 1991

Amanda had her first brush with fame after appearing as a contestant on Blind Date in 1991. 

She then cementing her acting chops with roles in ITV’s Wild at Heart and the BBC series Hearts and Bones.

Amanda then came to nationwide attention by nabbing a judge spot on Britain’s Got Talent in 2007 – a position which she still holds today. 

Radio star: Amanda has had a career for over 27 years in the entertainment industry and moved into radio this year, launching the national Heart Breakfast show, alongside Jamie Theakston

Radio star: Amanda has had a career for over 27 years in the entertainment industry and moved into radio this year, launching the national Heart Breakfast show, alongside Jamie Theakston

Meanwhile, the doctorate news has certainly come at a good time for Amanda who broke her leg in two places during a family getaway to Cyprus last month. 

Amanda snapped her fibula in two places when she slipped on a children’s obstacle course in the middle of the sea

The broadcaster is finally back on her own two feet after relying on a knee scooter and crutches in recent weeks. 

Unfortunate: The doctorate news has certainly come at a good time for Amanda who broke her leg in two places during a family getaway to Cyprus last month

Unfortunate: The doctorate news has certainly come at a good time for Amanda who broke her leg in two places during a family getaway to Cyprus last month



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