Holby City and Jesus of Nazareth star Robert Powell returned to the University of Salford to speak to students at their new £55m arts centre.
The New Adelphi Arts Centre was opened last month and includes a theatre named after Powell, who is an honorary graduate of the university.
Along with the 350-seater theatre, the new facility includes a smaller studio theatre, and several other studios for TV production, radio and dance.
Powell said: “I think the New Adelphi building is gobsmacking. I’m deeply jealous because when I was a student, we never had facilities like these. I think it’s fabulous.”
Hear how actor Robert Powell was ‘gobsmacked’ by our facilities when he visited our @createatsalford students for a Q&A today. pic.twitter.com/RXmTulqF54
— Salford University (@SalfordUni) October 20, 2016
The actor was born in Salford in 1944 and has a long-standing link with the university.
He is most famous for playing the title role in Jesus of Nazareth and Mark Williams in BBC drama Holby City, but recently starred in Mike Bartlett’s Broadway smash King Charles III.
During his visit, he gave a question and answer session to a group of final year students, offering advice for a career in acting.
He was educated at Manchester Grammar School in the 1950s, where fellow actor Ben Kingsley was a classmate, before attending the Royal College of Advanced Technology in Salford.
Coronation Street and Happy Valley actress Julie Hesmondhalgh will also visit the university next month as part of the Visiting Professionals Series.
