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'Don’t be afraid to be different’, says honorary graduate and BBC producer
Students graduating this year should celebrate their difference and not be afraid to rely on and help others. That’s according to the BBC Radio 4 producer Victoria Brignell, the latest recipient of a Doctorate of Literature honoris causa from the School of Advanced Study.
The honorary graduate was recognised alongside Slow Horses star Samuel West during a School of Advanced Study graduation ceremony earlier this year.
Speaking shortly before receiving her award, the disability champion and seasoned media professional says she was “stunned” to have been chosen for the honour.
She works on the broadcaster’s long-running ‘In Our Time’ programme presented by Melvyn Bragg, which draws more than 2 million listeners each week.
Brignell was recognised for her work in radio and campaigning on behalf of disabled people across education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
Speaking shortly before the ceremony, she recalls, "I thought it'd been a mistake, and I sent an e-mail reply saying, ‘are you sure it's meant for me’, but they assured me that it was.
“It's a great honour and a great privilege.”
She is passionate about bringing humanities research to wider audiences – something she feels is increasingly important in our current political climate.
“We live in an increasingly divided and polarised society and in my opinion, the study of humanities is more important than ever.
“If we're going to solve problems in both faces, we need to understand our societies, our cultures, our histories better, and the humanities is the key to that.”
What advice does she have for students graduating this year? “First of all, don't be afraid to be different,” she says.
“Our communities and our organisations are stronger if they have people from a wide range of backgrounds and we all benefit from a diversity of opinions and views and perspectives.”
Graduates should also remember that we need each together.
She continues, "Secondly, don't be afraid to be dependent. We live in a culture which values and promotes independence, but what we should be celebrating is our interdependence. It's our interdependence that makes us human.”
Don’t forget to be present, she also urges.
And thirdly, I'd say to them, ‘don't be afraid to simply be'. We lead busy lives. We are constantly striving to achieve goals, but it's worth now again taking time to simply enjoy being alive.
“As one poet said, ‘What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare.’
Brignell’s reference is a line from the poem “Leisure” by the Welsh poet W. H. Davies.
This page was last updated on 9 April 2025
