Broadcaster joins University as new Chancellor

Broadcaster Zeb Soanes has officially been appointed the University of Suffolk’s new Chancellor in the University’s final Graduation ceremony of 2025.

The Lowestoft-born actor, author and radio host succeeds Dr Helen Pankhurst CBE, the women’s rights activist and author, who was the University’s first ever Chancellor in a role she held for seven years.

Mr Soanes, who hosts the Relaxing Evenings show on Classic FM, was born and raised in Lowestoft, where his family still lives, and will now represent the University of Suffolk in the ceremonial role as it heads into its 10th anniversary in 2026 as an independent University.

Mr Soanes said: “It’s hugely exciting, I’m really looking forward to finding out just how much goes on at the University, how far those tentacles reach into Ipswich itself, so I’m hugely excited, and excited about shouting about all the work that the University is doing.

“It was a huge honour to be asked. Suffolk is very much a part of who I am and my family, who were here today, so that was very special too. It’s a wonderful county, it has so much going on so as part of the role I am looking forward to championing Suffolk as well as the University.”

Mr Soanes joined graduating students on business courses across the University on Wednesday morning for his appointment.

He said: “I’m looking forward to hearing what these students have got planed for themselves and keeping those flames of ambition alive. 

“It’s so easy for ambition to just be snuffed out because you think you couldn’t possibly move away from home, or because something feels too much of a step for you – if you work hard, anything is possible.”

In a 25-year career at the BBC, Mr Soanes was an authoritative newsreader and the reassuring voice of the Shipping Forecast on BBC Radio 4, as well as a presenter of the BBC Proms.

He now broadcasts on weeknights for Classic FM, while also continuing to write his popular Gaspard the Fox series of books.

In addition, Mr Soanes has been a key campaigner for a statue of composer Benjamin Britten in Lowestoft, the town where the celebrated composer was born.

Next year, Mr Soanes will return to the stage as an actor to star in the one-man show Two Halves of Guinness, portraying his childhood acting hero Sir Alec Guinness.

Outgoing Chancellor Dr Helen Pankhurst, who conferred the degrees in her final ceremony, said: “It was just lovely, it was emotional but in a lovely way.

"There was a real sense of a handover, which is an important thing, and I have a lot of admiration for Zeb, I think he will be fabulous on so many levels, I think he will fit so well. It’s just wonderful to be handing over to him at this point, knowing the ten-year celebrations are coming up.”

Dr Pankhurst, who is the great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst, will continue her work with Centenary Action, which works to address barriers to women in politics, and her work as a Visiting Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University. She is also anticipating the birth of her first grandchild.

Paying tribute to Dr Pankhurst’s work at the University, Vice-Chancellor Professor Jenny Higham described her as a “passionate advocate” of the University and its work, hailing her “outstanding dedication”.

Professor Higham added: “It is Helen’s values of equality and diversity that have shone through her tenure as our Chancellor.”

The new appointment concludes the 2025 Graduation ceremonies at the University of Suffolk, where more than 4,000 students have been conferred awards across ten ceremonies.