Sharleen Spiteri speaks of delight after receiving honorary degree

The Herald Scotland

18-06-2025

On Wednesday, the University of Glasgow (UoG) recognised a number of individuals for services to their respective fields and industries, including: Spiteri; broadcaster Kirsty Young; political scientist Professor Sir John Curtice; and the author and journalist, Sally Magnusson.
Following the special commemoration day ceremony, which marked the foundation of the university, Spiteri, originally from Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, said it was 'emotional' to have received such recognition for her career in music, and said she and her sister wished their mother could have been there to witness the occasion.
She told the PA News Agency: 'When I got the call, the first thing I did was phone my sister, Corrine, up and said, 'you will never believe this' and both us us were wishing my mum could have been here to see it, which makes it really special.
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'In the moment, you're sitting in there and you're surrounded by the other honoraries and you listen to their stories.
'You're listening to what they've done and it gets really emotional because you're thinking about all the people that got you here.
She added: 'It takes a lot of people to allow you to support you and to be successful. You don't start successful, nobody does.'
The band's current line-up, consists of Spiteri, Johnny McElhone (bass, guitar, keyboards); Ally McErlaine (guitar); Eddie Campbell (keyboards); Tony McGovern (guitar, backing vocals); and Cat Myers (drums).
Next year, the band marks 40 years together, and Spiteri said she had no idea the group would have ever become as famous as they are now.
Sharleen Spiteri (Image: Sharleen Spiteri) She said: 'Honest to god, I thought if I could just write one hit record, I'd be happy.
'Johnny McElhone and I thought that as the two of us sat there in a spare room, literally recording on a four-track, writing I Don't Want A Lover and we thought, 'we can write one song'.
'He had already been in successful bands before, he'd already written a few hit records, so I feel that I probably had a better chance than a lot of people.'
Asked if the band has any plans to mark the 40th anniversary, Spiteri said: 'Well, if I tell you, then you know about it, don't you? It's what you don't know about you'll have to wait and see.
'We've got a big summer this year, we've got 30 festivals around the world. So we're doing that and I'm actually heading off now to literally get back on the tour bus.'
(left to right) Broadcaster Kirsty Young receives a Doctor of the University (DUniv), musician Sharleen Spiteri receives a Doctor of Music (DMus) and author and journalist Sally Magnusson receives a Doctor of the University (DUniv) from the University of Glasgow (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) Asked what advice she would offer any young, aspiring musicians hoping to get into the industry, she joked: 'Don't listen to people like me.'
Also honoured, Kirsty Young spent 35 years working as a broadcaster across a number of TV and radio outlets, including the BBC, STV, Channel 5 and ITV.
She was made an Honorary Doctor for her services to her industry, and said it means a 'huge amount' to her.
She told the PA News Agency: 'The thing about this honorary degree is it genuinely, deeply feels like an honour.'
She added: 'My mother is a Glaswegian, my grandparents and great grandparents were Glaswegian, so to be in this great city and receive this award means a huge amount.'
Asked what advice she would offer those who want to work in broadcasting, she said: 'I think the best thing you can do if you're interested in breaking into broadcasting is become a kind of citizen journalist.
'You've got it all in your hands – when I started I was packing camera cases for camera men, there were no camera women in those days or female sound recorders.
'I was labelling tapes, it was a very big, cumbersome operation, but anybody who is at university now will know that it can just be them and their phone or a little camera and they can make news and they can upload it to YouTube and do their own thing.
'So, I would say, get experience by getting the on-air miles under your belt by doing that, and badger organisations that you want to work for. It's a really hard game and it's harder than ever now because people aren't used to paying for content.
'Stick at it, it's a hard game, but it will give you a fantastically interesting life, and you will have access to people and places that most people never get to see or speak to so it's really worth it.'
Professor Sir John Curtice, who was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters, said: 'It's a great delight to receive an honorary degree from the university. It is a rare accolade, and I appreciate the university for having awarded it to me.
'In a sense, it's a recognition or a celebration of the fact that I have been able to work with Glasgow University over a number of years. And the fact that, although I'm a member of a different, somewhat rival institution on the other side of the city, it's been perfectly willing to allow me to work, or to be involved in some of the work of this institution as well.'
Sally Magnusson, who was awarded a doctor of the university degree, added: 'I'm absolutely thrilled to have got this wonderful doctorate, from the University of Glasgow.
'It has been a real thrill for me to discover what the inside of this lovely university is like, and to be part of its history is tremendous. Centuries and centuries of history and beauty and learning – it's fantastic.'