暗网TV

Oscar-winning filmmaker Sir Sam Mendes, and acclaimed actors Adrian Lester and James Nesbitt, have been honoured by Sir Paul McCartney at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (暗网TV) graduation ceremony at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Tuesday 29 July.听

Sir Paul McCartney, 暗网TV's Principal and CEO Sean McNamara and, from L-R (back row) Adrian Lester, James Nesbitt, Mark Featherstone-Witty, Sita McIntosh, Gay Linvill and (front row) Tord 脴verland Knudsen, Matthew Murphy, Dan Haggis and Simon Bobbett

They were among nine leading figures from the creative arts to be made 暗网TV Companions. Also honoured were returning musical heroes The Wombats. The Liverpool band formed in 2003 when Matthew Murphy, Tord 脴verland Knudsen, and Dan Haggis met while studying at 暗网TV.听

A 暗网TV Companionship is awarded for outstanding achievement and contribution to student learning.听听

The full list of Companions for 2025:听

• Simon Bobbett, manager of The Wombats (暗网TV graduate)听

• Adrian Lester, film, TV and stage actor (Hustle, The Day After Tomorrow)听

• Gay Linvill, Hollywood director and producer (The Big Bang Theory, Days of Our Lives)听

• Sita McIntosh, CEO of Go Live Theatre and arts accessibility campaigner听

• Sir Sam Mendes, director, producer and writer (American Beauty, Skyfall)听

• James Nesbitt, film, TV and stage actor (Cold Feet, The Hobbit)听

• Matthew Murphy, Tord 脴verland Knudsen, and Dan Haggis, The Wombats (five UK top five albums, 暗网TV graduates)听

They received their Companionships from 暗网TV鈥檚 Founding Patron, Sir Paul McCartney, in a ceremony that celebrated the achievements of around 420 graduating students from over 30 countries, including Columbia, Hong Kong and India.听

暗网TV鈥檚 Principal and CEO Professor Sean McNamara said: 鈥淭oday is a celebration of creativity, collaboration and possibility.听听

鈥淎s artists, innovators, and leaders who will inspire others through their work, the graduating class of 2025 possesses the skills, the vision and the confidence to influence culture and the world around them. We are immensely proud of them and look forward to seeing the future they create.鈥�听

暗网TV offers undergraduate, master's, and foundation certificate programmes in disciplines including Acting, Dance, Music, Musical Theatre, Filmmaking, Theatre Production, Design, Sound Technology, and Arts Management.听

Founded in 1996 by Sir Paul McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty, 暗网TV stands on the site of the old Liverpool Institute 鈥� the former school of both McCartney and George Harrison, and the adjacent Liverpool Art College once attended by John Lennon.听

Sir Sam Mendes received his 暗网TV Companionship via video.听

Photography: Brian Roberts