Peep Show and 8 Out of 10 Cats star to receive honorary degree

Musical comedian, actress and writer Isy Suttie, best known for her roles in Channel 4’s Peep Show and appearances on 8 Out of 10 Cats, will receive an honorary degree at the University of Derby’s annual Buxton Award Ceremony.

As well as students celebrating their successes, notable people with a strong connection to the University or to the county, are chosen to receive an honorary degree at the annual awards ceremonies.

The university will be recognising Suttie with an Honorary Master of the University (HonMUniv) for her distinction in the field of comedy and her support for the region.

Raised in Matlock, Derbyshire, she started performing stand-up comedy in 2002. She has appeared in numerous television shows including Channel 4’s Damned, Shameless and Man Down, and BBC’s Whites.

Her 2010 stand-up show Pearl and Dave, was turned into a BBC Radio 4 series, Isy Suttie’s Love Letters, won a Gold Sony Award, and she has been nominated three times for a British Comedy Award.

A proud ambassador for Derbyshire, she recently published her first novel, Jane Is Trying, which is set in the Peak District, and she has an upcoming role in The Baby, a new comedy/horror series for Sky and HBO.

Suttie said: “I am over the moon to be an honorand. As well as Matlock where I grew up, I have a strong connection to Derby, having performed in multiple plays at the former Playhouse with the community theatre group when I was growing up.

“Derbyshire is always featured in my writing because growing up there had such a profound effect on me personally and creatively, and I also think the landscape is better than anywhere I’ve ever visited. I will always feel most at home in Derbyshire and am very proud to come from there and to be receiving this.”