The Dark Knight actor receives honorary degree

An actor who starred in The Dark Knight and voiced characters in Bob the Builder and Peppa Pig has received an honorary degree from his alma mater.

Colin McFarlane was recognised for his "outstanding contributions to the arts and his role in championing men's health issues" when he returned to Loughborough University on Tuesday.

He graduated with a BA in Drama in 1983 and has since played a variety of roles on stage, television and film, including Gotham City police commissioner Gillian B Loeb in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

McFarlane is an advocate of men's health awareness and publicly shared his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2023 to encourage others to get checked.

McFarlane is known as the voice of The Cube on the ITV gameshow.

He has also appeared in Liam Neeson film The Commuter, the Doctor Who universe and Outlander, and voiced characters in Supertato and Hey Duggee.

The 63-year-old said: "I feel very lucky to be able to come back and be recognised for the work I've done. It's a wonderful full circle moment.

"This is where it all began, where the dreams began.

"My younger self wouldn't believe that one day I'd be in a Batman movie, work with Liam Neeson, become the voice of an iconic game show, produce, direct and write, be offered lovely roles in Hollywood, and make my parents proud.

"And the bonus is that this has given me a platform to help other people. That wasn't something that was in my dream, but dreams evolve."

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