Thanks to SnitchSeeker and Lauren D. we now have a video of Matthew receiving his Honorary Master of the Arts degree from Leeds Metropolitan University. In the video he accepts his awards with a speech.
They have also kindly transcribed his speech:
Thank you for that very kind introduction. You made me sound almost like a saint, thank you. I’m really not, I assure you. I guess you’re all rather bored now, and ready for pub, so I’ll try and keep this brief.
To say this award came as a bit of a shock is quite the understatement. I initially didn’t know where to begin with this speech. Being only 23, I’ve been trying to think of something to say that wouldn’t come across as necessarily condescending. I know how much you all put into these degrees. My girlfriend’s sat in the front row, and actually graduated from her four-year classes this morning, and you wouldn’t have thought much of her face a few days ago when I told her I’d be graduating on the same day. (audience laughter).
So after much deliberation, I decided to exercise caution and stay away from the patronizing advice. I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for allowing me to share this day with all of you. It’s a real honor for me. I actually applied to Leeds Metropolitan University many years ago – and I did get accepted – but unfortunately I was away filming in London and it was just going to be too impractical.
It was something that I actually to this day regretted, having seen many of my friends pass through these halls with their degrees. So it’s a real pleasure for me to count myself as an alumni, albeit a slightly cheesy one. It’s still a tremendous privilege. So thanks again for letting me be here today. Leeds is my home, and this means an awful lot to me, more than I could ever convey in words. Finally, congratulations to all of you, sincerely. My best wishes, all the best for the future, and I look forward very much to seeing what we’ll achieve from here in. Thank you.