Swansea University has awarded beloved entertainer and broadcaster Kev Johns MBE an Honorary Doctor of Letters.
The award recognises his outstanding contribution to Welsh entertainment and community life, alongside his unwavering dedication to the city of Swansea.
Kev received the honour at a graduation ceremony on Thursday 23 July, celebrating at Swansea Arena alongside hundreds of graduates.
Recently, Kev has shown remarkable personal resilience. After being diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer and suffering a stroke earlier this year, he has fought back with determination.
With the physiotherapists and speech therapists who supported his recovery in the audience, Kev delivered an emotional speech thanking them for helping him to walk and talk again.
Addressing the new graduates, he said: “Sharing the stage with you today has been the honour of my life, and whatever I have done in the past, and whatever I will do in the future, nothing will match today, because you people are the best and I wish you the very best of luck for the future.”
His moving address drew a heartfelt standing ovation from the crowd.
Born in Swansea in 1961 and raised in Plasmarl, Kev’s remarkable career spans more than three decades across theatre, radio, sport, and charity work.
He first entered showbiz as a children's entertainer and comedian, building the foundation for his highly successful stage career. Today, he is best known for his long association with the Swansea Grand Theatre. He has starred in the annual pantomime for more than 30 years, and his iconic performances as the traditional panto dame have endeared him to generations of local families.
Kev is also a lifelong supporter of Swansea City AFC. He plays a vital role in the club's identity as both its official chaplain and its matchday announcer. His distinctive voice is a staple of the stadium experience. Drawing on his ministerial background, he also provides vital pastoral support and regularly represents the club at community and remembrance events.
Beyond the spotlight, Kev is widely respected for his tireless charitable and voluntary work. Throughout his career, he has championed numerous local causes and serves as a patron or president for several community organisations.
His dedication has earned him high praise. In 2013, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to charity. In 2022, he received one of the region's highest civic honors when he was granted the Honorary Freedom of the City of Swansea.
Reflecting on his honorary award after the ceremony, Kev said: “I’ve never been so proud of anything in my life, and to see all the young people get their degrees and start their journey in life was amazing.
“To me, Swansea University is an incredible university. I’ve had cancer, and I’ve had a stroke, and so many of the wonderful nurses and people that have looked after me have trained at Swansea University. The University is so involved in Swansea life, from Technocamps, its connection with the Swans, the Taliesin Theatre where I’ve performed many times, and one of the best plays I’ve ever done was written by a Creative Writing PhD student at Swansea. Today has meant the world to me, it really is a huge honour.”