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Award winning TV producer gets set for an honorary degree

13/09/2016

An award winning producer and director has received an Honorary Degree from the University of Wolverhampton.

Jonnie Turpie MBE, founder director of Maverick TV, received his award from the Faculty of Arts at a graduation ceremony recently held at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.  The Honorary Doctor of Arts was presented in recognition of Jonnie’s commitment to championing the arts, young people and the creative industries.

Jonnie, who was High Sheriff of the West Midlands in 2015, said: “What a wonderful honour it is to be awarded with this degree by the University that gave me my first break.  It will be a pleasure to meet past and present staff and students of the Faculty who are giving many aspiring creatives their first break in this great industry.”

Jonnie, who began his career at the University of Wolverhampton as a Fine Art Research Fellow, has produced and directed public service drama, documentary and digital media over the last 30 years. He is founder director of Maverick Television, a leading independent production company with bases in Birmingham, Los Angeles, Edinburgh and London, employing a wide range of talent who he supports, mentors and advocates for.

Maverick are the proud producers of award-winning television and digital productions including Operation Ouch for CBBC, Old School for BBC and Embarrassing Bodies for Channel 4. He has pioneered and contributed to a wide range of digital media programmes, products and services in the media, education and health worlds. These include Teachers TV, Ideas Factory, Embarrassing Bodies online, NHS Local, Living It Up and No Delays.

He is a director of Birmingham Ormiston Academy, Creative England, The BBC and Arts Council’s SPACE digital arts fund, Birmingham Creative City and Chair of Midlands Arts Centre. He was awarded an MBE for services to international trade in the Queen’s 2010 New Year’s Honours list.

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