HE’S battled aliens alongside Doctor Who and is a critically acclaimed screenwriter and director, but now former Ladbroke Grove resident and Hammersmith student, Noel Clarke, can add an honorary doctorate to his long list of achievements.

The 35-year-old star of Doctor Who and Kidulthood was conferred an honorary doctor of arts at the University of East London at a ceremony held at the O2.

Born and raised in Ladbroke Grove, his burgeoning talent was first noticed while he was a student at Burlington Danes Secondary School, now Burlington Danes Academy.

After roles in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Metrosexuality, he shot to fame playing Mickey Smith in BBC One’s Doctor Who.

Shortly afterwards he wrote and starred in Kidulthood and its sequel Adulthood, about the lives of teens growing up in the Ladbroke Grove and Latimer Road area of West London.

He subsequently won a BAFTA award in the Orange Rising Star category in 2009.

Picking up his award, he said: “This is an amazing feeling, it’s such a great honour to receive this award. I love doing what I do and to get an honour for that seems strange, but I’m also very thankful. My advice to students, young people and anyone else who has a dream is to follow your instincts and to always give 100 per cent.”