A CULT TV sports presenter will be known as "Doctor Jeff" after scooping an honorary degree.
Sky Sports' Hartlepool-born anchorman Jeff Stelling has been awarded a doctorate from the University of Teesside after championing the region in front of millions of viewers.
The former
Mail reporter will be presented with a doctorate in professional studies at a ceremony next month.
Jeff today said he was delighted with the award and was very proud of his Teesside roots.
"I thought it was a hoax at first and I was being wound up by one of my mates!" said Jeff, who is originally from the Rift House area of town.
"It is nice to be recognised for trying to promote the region in the best way I can, because I am never afraid to tell people where I am from."
Jeff started work on the Mail when he left school after choosing to go into journalism rather than studying at university.
He has been the presenter on Sky Sports' Gillette Soccer Saturday for the last decade where he directs a panel of experts including former footballers Matt Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson.
Jeff claimed he would not ask them to call him Doctor Jeff but admitted he may get a bit of stick for his degree.
"I suspect Charlie Nicholas who is just a nuisance, will eventually wind me up about it!" said Jeff.
"But I am very proud and it will be really nice day. It certainly makes up for not going to university."
A spokesman for the unversity said: "Jeff has been a well known face to Sky Sports viewers for over a decade. "Aside from football he has presented a range of other sporting programmes.
Honorary degrees will also be presented to children's author Anne Fine and inventor Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys.
The awards ceremony takes place on Friday, November 23, at Middlesbrough Town Hall.
