Billy Kay MA DUniv
Billy Kay will be awarded a Doctor of Literature (DLitt) on Wednesday 1 July 2026 during the afternoon ceremony.
Billy Kay is a distinguished writer and broadcaster whose work has made a significant contribution to the promotion of Scottish culture, language and history. A former BBC producer, he is best known for creating the Odyssey series documenting the oral history of Scotland’s working class.
Billy was born in Ayrshire in 1951 and educated at the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated with an MA (Hons) in English Language and Literature. He joined the BBC in 1979, later becoming a producer and creating the Odyssey documentary series recording the voices and experiences of Scotland’s working people.
As a freelance writer and broadcaster, he has produced programmes for BBC Scotland including Miners and The Mother Tongue and has written plays for stage and radio. His stage play They Fairly Mak Ye Work achieved success at Dundee Rep, while his radio play Lucky’s Strike was awarded the Sloan Prize at the University of St Andrews.
He has contributed to educational broadcasting through Channel 4 Schools series Haud Yer Tongue and has represented Scotland internationally, including at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and the Library of Congress.
Billy Kay has played an active role in Scotland’s cultural and civic life, supporting the campaign for a Scottish Parliament and contributing to the promotion of the Scots language through the Cross-Party Group on the Scots Language.
He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of the West of Scotland in 2009 and the Oliver Award in 2010.