Deaf News: ITV British Sign Language interpreter awarded MBE

A deaf British Sign Language interpreter known for interpreting ITV soap operas Emmerdale and Coronation Street has been made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Alex Duguid from Gateshead, who went viral in 2015 with a clip of him ‘surprising’ Corrie’s Liz McDonald, was awarded the accolade for “services to Deaf People and British Sign Language Education”.

Speaking to ITV News Tyne Tees, the 73-year-old said he received a letter at home confirming the award.

“I read through and it was from the Cabinet Service, and I was like, ‘oh, what’s this? Have I done something wrong?’

“I had a look, opened it all out, and I was so shocked to be reading through it, I had to read it twice.

“I’ve been awarded an MBE and I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

Congratulations to our very own Alex Duguid who has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours! Alex has been recognised for services to Deaf People and British Sign Language Education. pic.twitter.com/A3T263tI9Y

— ITV SignPost (@ITVSignPost) June 7, 2019

The interpreter joins actress Olivia Coleman and television presenter Bear Grylls on the honours list, as well as hundreds of campaigners.

The full Birthday Honours list can be found on the Government website.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is a mildly deaf freelance journalist and blogger from Bedfordshire. He wears bilateral hearing aids and can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.