"I'M not a real doctor!" declared TV's Martin Clunes, trying hard to keep a grip on reality after receiving an honorary doctorate from Bournemouth University.

The star of the hit ITV1 show, Doc Martin, was at the Bournemouth International Centre yesterday to be made a Doctor of Arts by the town's university.

Far from behaving badly, the popular actor seemed overawed by the occasion. "I'm puzzled, flattered, and very excited," Mr Clunes told the Daily Echo.

Hundreds of students graduating from the university's media school cheered as Mr Clunes accepted his doctorate.

"I can't stop feeling like I've nicked something," he told them.

Justin King, the chief executive of supermarket giant, Sainsbury, was made a Doctor of Business Administration.

Mr King told graduates to make the most of opportunities and that his current role had been a "fantastic opportunity to lead the recovery of an iconic business."

The Daily Echo's editor, Neal Butterworth, was made a Doctor of Letters in recognition of his success at the title's helm, winning a string of awards with the paper and raising nearly £6 million for good causes.

Mr Butterworth said he was extremely honoured to have received the award, and thanked his colleagues at the newspaper for their support.

"Without the work of my colleagues at the Daily Echo this could never have been achieved, so my thanks go to all of them," he said.

He presented the Daily Echo Award for Best News Journalist to Rebecca Garson, who graduated from the university's multi-media journalism course.

This year's honorary doctors join an impressive roll call. Authors Bill Bryson and Minette Walters, and Oscar-winning screenwriter, Julian Fellowes, are among those previously honoured.

Vice-chancellor, Paul Curran, said three days of graduation ceremonies had left him feeling "elated". Professor Curran paid tribute to his students and said families should also enjoy the celebrations. "It's their day as well," he added.

Ian Price-Smith, an IT analyst from Poole, had come to watch his daughter, Rosie, graduate from the university's multi-media journalism course.

"It's a proud day, and an emotional one," said Mr Price-Smith.