Ed Sheeran becomes honorary doctor

  • Anglia
Ed Sheeran Credit: Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire

Ed Sheeran is returning to his home county of Suffolk to receive an honorary degree for his "outstanding contribution to music".

The 24-year-old singer-songwriter is to be awarded an honorary doctorate from University Campus Suffolk (UCS) in Ipswich.

Sheeran, who grew up in Framlingham, Suffolk, and left school at 16, said he was "honoured" to receive the award.

Ed Sheeran left school at 16 and said he was Credit: Joe Giddens/PA Wire

Click below to watch Ed Sheeran on ITV News Anglia with Becky Jago

Sheeran, whose hits include Thinking Out Loud, Lego House and Sing, has become of one of the world's biggest music stars after selling millions of copies of his albums + and x.

His debut concert film, Jumpers For Goalposts, which was filmed during three sell-out performances at Wembley Stadium in July, is to be shown in cinemas from Thursday 22 October.

Ed Sheeran performing on stage during Fusion Festival 2015 at Cofton Park, Birmingham Credit: Joe Giddens/PA Wire

Honorary degrees will also be awarded to author Ronald Blythe, former icedancer and Dancing On Ice judge Nicky Slater, and Maureen Reynel, who founded the charity Find, which provides emergency help to people affected by poverty or dispossession.

More than 1,200 UCS students will be awarded their degrees at ceremonies in Ipswich this week.