ONE of Britain’s best-known actresses has been honoured by a North East university.

Former Coronation Street star Anne Reid MBE was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by Sunderland University today (Monday, July 6).

The Redcar-born actor, starred in TV hits Dinnerladies and Last Tango in Halifax, but is possibly still best known for her first major acting role as Valerie Tatlock on Coronation Street.

Her marriage to Ken Barlow in 1962 was watched by 15.8 million viewers – and almost 19 million viewers watched her character’s funeral in 1971.

She has appeared in many classic British TV and radio shows, including Hancock’s Half Hour, Casualty and Doctor Who.

She has also appeared in Shameless, Upstairs Downstairs, Doc Martin, Our Zoo and TV adaptations of Bleak House and Jane Eyre

She won Bafta nominations for role in the film Life and Death on Long Island and the popular BBC1 show, Last Tango in Halifax.

She said: "I'm so amazed. I haven't even got an A-level and when I told my son I was going to be Doctor, he laughed and said I'd be the most qualified person in the family."

Anne Reid MBE received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts in recognition of her distinguished acting career in film, theatre and television.

University Vice-Chancellor Shirley Atkinson says: "Our honoraries have all made highly significant contributions within their fields and will inspire our graduates as they celebrate their academic success and embark on their careers.

“We are proud to pay tribute to them."