Patrick Kielty explains wife Cat Deeley's absence from honorary university ceremony

Comedian and presenter Patrick Kielty graduated from Ulster University on Monday with an Honorary Doctorate award but wife Cat Deeley was unable to make the event.

The award-winning stand-up comic from Co Down was given the accolade in recognition of his 'outstanding contribution to the arts'

In his speech, the Dundrum man explained why he couldn't be joined by wife Cat at the ceremony and said: “Apparently when you’re hosting a live show Monday to Thursday, you don’t get time off – she couldn’t believe that Ulster had given me this honour - she still thinks I’ve come back for a couple of day on the beer and just pretended to get an honorary degree."

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Asked who he thought should be the next recipient of an Ulster University honourary doctorate, Dr Patrick Kielty said: “Well I think Cat Deeley would a great one to give an honorary degree to. Then she would believe Ulster University has given one to me!”

Asked for some life advice for Ulster students who might want to go into arts and entertainment, he said: “My advice for someone who wants to get into entertainment is: don’t! Clearly older comedians like me still need to work so I would say do a degree and go into something completely different please don’t come and steal my dinner!”

The Co Down presenter of RTÉ chat show, The Late Late Show, in 2023, released his first feature film, Ballywalter in 2022. Patrick’s BAFTA nominated My Dad, The Peace Deal and Me saw him named UK Documentary Host of the Year at the 2018 Grierson Awards while his film Patrick Kielty:100 Years of the Union also earned him an RTS Award for best presenter.

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