Degree honour for singer Cocker

Jarvis Cocker joked he would not open a medical surgery, even with his newly acquired title of Doctor.

The former Pulp singer was back in his home city of Sheffield to receive an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University, where he studied when it was known as a polytechnic.

He told the assembled graduates at City Hall, who were also there to collect certificates, that he was honoured to receive the award.

He said: "I'm called a doctor now. Don't worry, I won't open a surgery.

"But I guess if you are a songwriter maybe I could have some kind of musical surgery.

"If you had a song with a swollen chorus, or a varicose verse, or if you need a little bit of help I could try and heal your song for you."

Jarvis had his big break with Pulp at Sheffield Polytechnic in 1981 when they handed over a demo tape to radio legend John Peel, and he invited them to record a session for BBC Radio One.

In the last decade he has launched a successful solo career and also moved into film-making and art.

He told City Hall that he had done most of his learning outside formal classrooms, and added: "It's a great honour to be given this, especially in my home town."