Award-winning actor, singer, comedian, and English alumna Dame Patricia Routledge (BA Hons English Language & Literature 1951, Hon LittD 1999) is set to receive the Freedom of the Wirral award later this year.

Dame Patricia was born in Tranmere, Birkenhead and attended Birkenhead High School. She studied English Language and Literature at the University of Liverpool. During her studies she was active with the drama and music societies, before deciding on a career in theatre.

Wirral councillors voted to approve her nomination for Freedom of the Borough and she is set to receive her award later in the year.

Dame Patricia recently returned to the University for a special event to celebrate the second anniversary of the University’s concert venue The Tung Auditorium, for which she was an ambassador. She took part in an ‘In conversation’ event with journalist and radio presenter Edward Seckerson, where she reminisced about her illustrious career, and shared moving and at times, emotional insights into her musical journey.

As an English graduate, she’s also kindly funded bursaries to support our students in the English Department.

The University would like to congratulate Dame Patricia on receiving this accolade.