Drama students at Huddersfield University will be out to impress next week - as they will have a very famous face in their audience.

Actor Sir Patrick Stewart is visiting on Tuesday for a ceremony in which an historic building will be named after him.

While he is there, he will see three performances by groups of drama students, who are to present pieces they have devised as part of their degree studies.

Sir Patrick will unveil a plaque which sees the drama department officially renamed the Sir Patrick Stewart Building.

He is on tour with fellow acting legend Sir Ian McKellen in a near-sellout production of Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land, and has now reached Sheffield.

The premises to be named after Sir Patrick are a vast Victorian church - previously known as the Milton Building – which have been converted into spacious, well-equipped studios and theatres for all kinds of performance, teaching and research.

Sir Patrick, who was born in Mirfield, was Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield from 2004 until 2015, when he handed the role over to the Duke of York.

The Star Trek actor, who is famous for his classic stage acting as well as roles on TV and in movie blockbusters, is now Emeritus Chancellor of the University,

He has frequently visited over the past 12 years, presiding over many graduation ceremonies and meeting large numbers of students. He has also served the university in an overseas ambassadorial role.

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The University of Huddersfield has begun a process of naming all its key buildings after famous local personages. Most of them are figures from the past such as Richard Oastler and the Brontes. Sir Patrick is the exception.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Bob Cryan said: “He is very much a living legend! He was an inspirational figure as Chancellor for so many years, and now we are ensuring that he will be an inspiration for drama students for generations to come.”