GMTV's Lorraine set for university post

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly was taking part in a special inauguration ceremony involving a pub crawl as she was installed as a rector of a university today.

The Glasgow-born GMTV presenter beat BBC Radio Scotland presenter Lesley Riddoch and the disgraced former MI5 agent David Shayler in February to the become rector of Dundee University.

There were a total of 866 votes, of which Ms Kelly received 580, Shayler 170 and BBC Radio Scotland presenter Lesley Riddoch 116.

Ms Kelly succeeds comedian and Radio Scotland presenter Fred MacAuley, who studied at Dundee.

She will hold office for three years representing students at the University Court.

Today, as well as taking part in an official ceremony Ms Kelly was being dragged around the city, in 19th century style, by students on a pub crawl.

Students from the university women’s rugby team were carrying the presenter in a special carriage from the City Chambers where she was being met by Student President Chris Bustin and welcomed to the City of Dundee by the Lord Provost John Letford.

She was then being “dragged” in the carriage from the City Square to the university, stopping off at three public houses on the way for refreshments.

On arrival at the University’s Tower Building the Principal of the University of Dundee Alan Langlands will be greeting Ms Kelly before the official installation ceremony begins.

She will then be delivering her official Rectorial address during the ceremony in the Bonar Hall.

A champagne reception will be held on the Tower lawn after the ceremony for students and staff to welcome their new Rector to the University.

And tomorrow Ms Kelly’s morning GMTV show will be broadcast live from the university.

It will include interviews with university scientists on their latest research, an interview with Dundee-born actor Brian Cox and a fashion piece featuring students.

Ms Kelly, 44, a mother of one, began her career as a researcher for BBC Scotland before moving to the then newly-launched TV-AM 18 years ago.