It was both "wrong and retrograde", he said, exhibiting a little of that talent for alliteration so admired by Professor Higgins in Alfred Doolittle.

BBC: Who paved way for NHS regional pay?

After The River he will head on to Sheffield to play Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady at the Crucible theatre.

BBC: Dominic West takes lead in new Jez Butterworth play

Other recipients of doctorates were Dame Rosalyn Higgins, DBE, The Rt Hon Lord Rothschild, GBE, Dr Arno Penzias, and Professor Shirley Tilghman.

BBC: Oxford honours arts figures