DISTINGUISHED Scottish writer and producer Steven Moffat received an honorary degree from the University of West of Scotland at its graduation ceremony in Paisley yesterday.

Moffat, who was raised in the Renfrewshire town, has featured as a writer and executive-producer on several award-winning productions, including BBC programmes Sherlock and Dr Who.

The 54-year-old is no stranger to personal accolades, having previously collected the BAFTA “special award”, several Hugo Awards and the Royal Television Society Judges Award for his “outstanding contribution to television”. The Queen also awarded Moffat with an OBE on her birthday honours list for his services to television in 2015.

The recent award is not even his first doctorate. Glasgow University awarded their former student the Doctor of Letters in 2013.

On receiving his latest tribute in his home town, he said: “It’s always a joy to go home – but to go back to Paisley to receive a doctorate feels like I finally made it. I feel very honoured, and more importantly very happy”.

Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal of the University of the West of Scotland, added: “Steven is quite simply one of the country’s greatest screenwriters and through his work on both the small and big screen he has brought joy to millions of viewers worldwide”.

He was quick to emphasise the legacy of Moffat’s achievements, saying: “He is great role model for anyone, not just our students, and demonstrates that your path in life will be determined by your own passion for the things you believe in and that anyone can have success if they work hard”.

DOCTOR WHO?

THE recipient of the doctorate has had a career to match the very best of current British television writers, yet he did not always seem destined for widespread acclaim.

Although a member of the Glasgow University Student Television station while studying for his degree, Moffat’s career did not begin in television.

After graduating with an MA in English, he worked as an English teacher for more than three years. His experiences would serve him well, however, providing the inspiration for BBC series Chalk.

Before then, Moffat’s first television hit was the hugely successful Press Gang, based on a school newspaper. He wrote all 43 episodes of the BAFTA-winning programme, which ran for a total of five series on ITV between 1989 and 1993.

The television show was his first and chance played its part in the young writer receiving the opportunity. Filming of the television series Highway happened to be taking place at the school at which his father was headmaster. He talked producers into looking over his son’s script and the rest is history.

The Paisley man’s subsequent creations included British Comedy Award-winning series Coupling, which was based on his own relationship with television producer and wife Sue Vertue.

His most renowned achievements came later. In 2009, Moffat was appointed as the lead writer and executive producer of Doctor Who. The childhood fan has since been awarded a whole host of accolades for his role in the series’ regeneration.

Another of his great recent successes was the BBC drama Sherlock, which he created along with Mark Gatiss. The contemporary reboot of the classic series, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, has been a huge hit with British audiences, earning Moffat the best writing BAFTA in 2011 for the episode A Scandal in Belgravia.

His talent even extends beyond television. He wrote the script for Steven Spielberg’s 2011 film The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, which grossed a worldwide box-office total of $373,993,951.

END OF AN ERA?

RECENTLY it was announced that the upcoming tenth series of Doctor Who, which will not air until 2017, will be the Scot’s last as writer and executive producer.

Broadchurch writer and Dr Who fan Chris Chibnall is set to take over following a Christmas special and 12 further episodes next spring.

Moffat was typically self-deprecating when he discussed leaving the show. He said: “It took a lot of gin and tonic to talk him into this, but I am beyond delighted that one of the true stars of British television drama will be taking the Time Lord even further into the future.

At the start of season 11, Chris Chibnall will become the new showrunner of Doctor Who. And I will be thrown in a skip”.

Those who worked with him on the show were slightly more forgiving. BBC One controller Charlotte Moore stated: “I want to thank Steven Moffat for everything he has given Doctor Who – I’ve loved working with him, he is an absolute genius and has brought fans all over the world such joy.

“I will be very sad to see him leave the show but I can’t wait to see what he will deliver in his last ever series next year”, she added.