THE creator of North East TV sitcom Hebburn has been honoured by his former university.

Jason Cook received an Honorary Fellowship from Sunderland University today (Monday July 7) at the Stadium of Light in recognition of his innovative contribution to entertainment..

The writer, actor and stand-up comedian studied Media Production but never completed his degree as his stand-up career took off in his first year of university.

Mr Cook was born in Hebburn, South Tyneside, and his solo show, My Confessions, won critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and was named Best International Show at the 2007 New Zealand International Comedy Festival.

In 2011 he created and appeared in Hebburn, a live show about his hometown, as part of the Salford Sitcom Showcase. The BBC commissioned two series and a Christmas special of the popular sitcom, which was filmed partly in the North-East.

Hebburn was voted Best New TV Sitcom in the 2013 Comedy.co.uk Awards, later that same year was named Best Drama at the Royal Television Society Awards, and was nominated Best Comedy in the 2014 National Television Awards.

He said: “I'm amazed and humbled to be getting this award. I’m totally blown away, and it was great for my mam to finally see me graduate from something as well. She was over the moon!”

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Fidler said: "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."