Clive, who in 30 years as a BBC journalist has reported from all over the world, was born and raised in Bolton as the son of Windrush generation parents from Jamaica.
A passionate champion for equality, Clive has also been a vocal proponent of the importance of representation on screen in terms of both race and social class.
He was named an Honorary Doctor of Arts at Edge Hill’s stunning Ormskirk campus, addressing hundreds of students during their graduation ceremony wishing them well and offering some sage advice.
“Thank you so much to Edge Hill University for this honour bestowed on me today.
“There’s no question I’m surrounded in this hall by champions and winners.
“You, my fellow graduates, have worked hard for this day.
“Hard work is undoubtedly the key to all success and it’s what got you all here today.
“It’s said that if you find the job you love, you will never work again.
“That’s what I fervently hope your degrees from this wonderful University will mean for you.
“In everything you do from this day forward, push yourself to be the best version you can be.”
Clive Myrie
As a teenager in Bolton with a paper round, Clive’s interest in news was sparked as he read newspapers from cover to cover.
After graduating with a law degree from the University of Sussex, he joined the BBC’s prestigious journalism training scheme and began his career in local radio in Bristol.
It wasn’t long before Clive moved to the radio and television newsroom in London and then onto a career as a foreign correspondent based all over the world.
In all he’s reported from close to a hundred countries, covering some of the most important stories of our time including every US Presidential election since 1996.
He’s won among other accolades the Royal Television Society Award for TV Journalist of the Year and Presenter of the Year, a Peabody Award for his reporting of the Rohingya/Myanmar crisis, the David Bloom Award for coverage of Mexico’s deadly drug gangs, and he’s been nominated for two BAFTA Awards and two Emmys.
A fan of classical music, he is now a regular presenter of the BBC Proms.
As host of Mastermind, Clive continues to promote the value of knowledge to audiences across the UK.
Clive’s experiences in his career and personal life are the subject of his new memoir, Everything is Everything, to be published in September 2023.
In this deeply personal memoir, he reflects on how his own background has affected his perspective on the myriad of issues he’s encountered in reporting some of the biggest stories of our time.
Clive’s empathy for the individual caught up in large historical events is widely recognised. He tells how his family history has influenced his view of the world, introducing us to his Windrush generation parents, a great grandfather who helped build the Panama Canal, and a great uncle who fought in the First World War, after being a prominent police detective in Jamaica.
This year, Edge Hill is also awarding Honorary Doctorates to business leader Sir Terry Leahy, as well as CEO of Timpson Group, James Timpson OBE.
Find out more about Edge Hill’s prestigious recipients of honorary awards on the website.
To discover more about our courses, please visit ehu.ac.uk/study.
July 17, 2023
