On Monday (1st July), Sally Gray, TV presenter, media trainer, business leader and charity worker, was awarded an honorary degree by Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.

Sally, a QMU graduate who has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the UK media and runs a highly successful media training business, was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University, Honoris Causa in recognition of her significant contribution to culture and the creative arts. Sally celebrated her success with Dame Prue Leith CBE, Chancellor of Queen Margaret University, and hundreds of new graduates and their families at the first of the QMU’s graduation ceremonies to be held in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall this year.

Sally studied communications and media studies at Queen Margaret College in the 1980s, and it was her dissertation work about children’s television that led her into the BBC’s Blue Peter offices. She landed her first ‘proper’ job as a BBC secretary, which brought her into contact with many highly experienced broadcasters, such as David Dimbleby, who was on the first programme she worked on, and she played a part in bringing the TV politics programme ‘Question Time’ to Scotland for the first time.

Sally’s presenting career kicked off on a BBC Scotland children’s education programme ‘Go45,’ which she co-hosted with Grant Stott. This programme was a fresh take on educational broadcasting and attracted an average audience of up to five million people per episode. Her TV credits range from fronting lifestyle shows such as ITV’s ‘Moving Day’ and ‘Our House’, BBC’s ‘Real Rooms’ and the ‘Really Useful Show’ to ‘live’ roving reporting on GMTV. She has also hosted fun CBBC entertainment shows, as well as presenting ‘Record Breakers’, ‘50/50’ and numerous other children’s programmes.

Nowadays, she focuses her energy on nurturing talent, with a particular interest in helping young people build their confidence and find opportunities in the media. She worked with the London Academy of Film and TV as their Head of Production, training young people up as TV presenters and mentoring new talent. She then set up her own media training company, Presenters Inc, where she has helped people with a story – including Olympic champions, Strictly Come Dancing professionals and human rights lawyers – to find their voice and engage with audiences.

In 2003, Sally received an MBE for services to young people through her work as an ambassador for the Millennium Volunteers. This was a youth volunteering award scheme, now re-badged in Scotland as the Saltire Awards. Similarly, through her role as an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, she has supported young people facing disadvantage and adversity to create a better future.

Sir Paul Grice, Principal and Vice Chancellor of Queen Margaret University, said: “Sally has created an incredibly successful, exciting and varied media career. She has travelled the world in search of the kookiest inventions, chased after wild alligators, flown a fighter plane, gone head-to-head with Hollywood heavyweights, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Pierce Brosnan, and sung a duet with actor and comedian Sir Norman Wisdom. But, Sally has not only entertained us – she has used her wealth of expertise to give voice to others, helping many fulfil their potential. In that, she personifies Queen Margaret University’s values of making the world a better place and allowing individuals to thrive.”

Sir Paul concluded: “Sally Gray is a true inspiration to our creative industry students and the whole of the QMU community, and we are delighted to recognise her impressive achievements with an honorary degree.”