Swansea University presents Honorary Degree to Jason Mohammad

Swansea University has conferred an Honorary Degree on Welsh radio and television presenter Jason Mohammad.

Mr Mohammad was presented with the award today (Tuesday 19 July) during the graduation ceremony for the College of Human and Health Sciences.   

Jason MohammadJason Mohammad was born and brought up in Cardiff to a Pakistani father and Welsh mother.  Growing up, he attended Glyn Derw High School and later moved to study Politics and Welsh at Swansea University, graduating in 1996.  He then attended Cardiff University for a postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism.

His natural flair for presenting saw him appointed as a reporter for BBC Wales Today in 1997 and he has been reporting and presenting ever since. He has worked in North Wales as a reporter for Wales Today, has filmed and presented a series of items from South Africa, and was a regular presenter on Wales Today for several years, as well as the anchor of Wales on Saturday.

He has been a regular on BBC Radio Wales for several years, and until September 2012 held court on the weekday Radio Wales Phone In.  He built up a regular following as host of the Extra Time Phone-In, going on to be one of the captains in early series of the spin-off sports entertainment quiz Extra Time, along with Owen Money.

One of Jason Mohammad’s great interests is sport and for BBC Wales he has presented coverage from the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and numerous FA cup finals.  He also presented the career-defining fight between Joe Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas, for BBC Wales and the main BBC network. He was trackside interviewing many of the world's biggest names in athletics during the London 2012 Olympic Games, and he is also part of the regular BBC One presenting line-up for the rugby Six Nations.

In 2013, he became the host of Final Score on BBC One. He is the presenter of Scrum V on BBC 2 Wales and the secondary snooker presenter for the BBC.

He hosts the mid-morning show on BBC Radio Wales each weekday and as a fluent Welsh speaker, he also makes regular appearances on BBC Radio Cymru.

He has presented Children in Need and has even made guest appearances on Doctor Who.

A practising Muslim, in 2009, he made the trip to Mecca, Saudi Arabia and the sacred sites such as the Ka’ba which are associated with Abraham and the Prophet Muhammad.  His pilgrimage was filmed as a programme for S4C.

Presenting the Honorary Award to Mr Mohammad was Mr Lewys Arôn, President of Swansea University Students’ Union.  He said: “Jason Mohammad is an outstanding alumnus of Swansea University who, through natural talent and determination has become one of the brightest stars of broadcasting today.  His enthusiasm and professionalism is an inspiration for students with similar ambitions, and as a Welshman and Welsh speaker he is a fine ambassador for the nation.”

On receiving his award, Mr Mohammad said: “I have the most fantastic memories of studying at Swansea University.  It is one of the best in Wales and the UK, and being part of such a fantastic institution, and so close to the beach on one side and the city on the other, was a very special experience.

“I am very touched to receive this award.  It is a great honour and it means so much because the University is where I studied the foundations for my career in journalism and broadcasting in the UK.  My fascination with the Welsh language and the history of political thought started right here at this wonderful university."

“I will never forget my time at Swansea University and I am very proud to now be amongst its honorary members.”