NEWSREADER Alastair Stewart is to be honoured by the University of Plymouth this month.

The ITN anchorman will be presented with a Doctorate of Letters during the university's annual graduation week on the Hoe.

Alastair, who has anchored every major news programme on the ITV News channel and this year hosted the first general election leadership debate, will be honoured for his achievements in journalism.

He will follow in the footsteps of fellow ITV legend Sir Trevor Macdonald OBE, who received a Doctorate of Letters from the university in 1993.

Also being honoured this year is BBC presenter and recent Celebrity Masterchef finalist Dick Strawbridge, who will receive a Doctorate of Science.

Culture Show host and art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon will be awarded a Doctorate of Arts during the week.

Sheikh Mubarak, heir to the Kuwait throne and Chief of Maritime Operations in the country, will receive a Doctorate of Science, while Tom Henderson, founder of disaster relief charity ShelterBox, will receive a Doctorate of Business.

In total, the university will confer 20 honorary awards as part of its graduation week on the Hoe, between September 20 and September 25.

Vice-chancellor Professor Wendy Purcell said: "We have a distinguished set of honorary doctorates for 2010 who embody the spirit of enterprise and discovery that characterise both Plymouth's heritage and our vision for the future. The university is very proud of all of its graduates, and is looking forward to welcoming them and their families to the city, and our spectacular setting on the Hoe for graduation week."

The university will host other high-profile events in the graduation marquees on the Hoe, including its inaugural Science and Technology Showcase and Research Centres Expo next Tuesday.

Entitled Explore, Dream, Discover, it will be open to the general public from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.

On the evening of Thursday, September 16, the second annual Vice-Chancellor's Enterprise Awards will take place.

Individuals from the business, public and community sectors as well as university staff, students and alumni, will be honoured for their enterprising work in the region.

On Friday, September 17, Bluestone 360 is organising a Hollywood-themed ball in the graduation marquee for Plymouth charity Jeremiah's Journey.

And on Saturday, September 18 there will be the Partners Through Sport Sports Celebration Dinner, when Plymouth people will receive colours in recognition of their work to encourage participation in sport.