Comedian Ola Labib has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by Rose Bruford College. She was one of those honoured during four graduation ceremonies at Holy Trinity Lamorbey in Sidcup on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 September 2026.
The awards recognise outstanding alumni achievement and wider contributions to performance, storytelling, creative education, representation and the College community.
Professor Randall Whittaker, Principal and CEO of Rose Bruford College, said: “One of the great joys of working in a creative institution is seeing how many different ways people make their mark. The individuals we are recognising this year have taken very different routes, but all have shown extraordinary commitment to their craft, their communities and the power of creativity to connect people.
As our graduates prepare to step into an ever-changing creative landscape, I hope they will take inspiration from these examples. There is no single definition of success, and no single route to achieving it. What matters is staying curious, embracing opportunity and having the courage to shape your own future.”
Ola Labib has supported Mo Gilligan at the O2 Arena and amassed an impressive list of television credits, appearing in World’s Most Dangerous Roads (Dave), Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled (Dave), Comedy Central Live (Comedy Central), The Emily Atack Show (ITV) and Richard Osman’s House of Games (BBC).
In 2024, Labib completed her first sold-out tour run for her debut show pOLArising and announced her first scripted project with Channel 4, The Pharmacy, released in 2025 to critical acclaim and viral success.
She said: “I’m truly honoured to be receiving an Honorary Fellowship from Rose Bruford College. Growing up, I rarely saw people who looked like me represented in the performing arts, and for a long time that made a career in this industry feel out of reach. But with a lot of self-belief, determination and hard work, I made the unlikely journey from studying and working in pharmacy to becoming a comedian, writer and, more recently, a published author.
I hope my story reminds students that there is no single route into the creative industries. Your career may take unexpected turns, and the skills, resilience and experiences you gain along the way can open doors you never imagined possible. Sometimes the path that seems unconventional is the one that leads you exactly where you’re meant to be.
I’m incredibly proud to receive this recognition and deeply grateful to be welcomed into the Rose Bruford College community. I hope this honour encourages the next generation of creatives to believe in themselves, embrace their own journey and know that there is space for their voice in this industry.”
