2025 LIPA graduation ceremony

Paul McCartney has made it a tradition to attend the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) graduation ceremony each year. As the school’s Lead Patron, he is always photographed with the new LIPA Companions of the year.

LIPA awards Companionships for outstanding achievement and practical contribution to students’ learning. This year new Companions included film director Sir Sam Mendes, and actors Adrian Lester and James Nesbitt.

From Jersey Evening Post, July 29, 2025:

James Bond director Sir Sam Mendes, actor Adrian Lester and Cold Feet star James Nesbitt have been honoured by Sir Paul McCartney at a Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) graduation ceremony.

The ceremony, which took place on Tuesday at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, saw The Beatles bass player award the trio a companionship for “outstanding achievement and contribution to student learning”, as he also honoured indie band The Wombats, who met while studying at the LIPA.

The band, made up of Matthew Murphy, Tord Overland Knudsen and Dan Haggis, also saw their manager Simon Bobbett receive a companionship.

Sir Sam, who is currently planning a set of four individual but interconnected films based on the lives of each of the members of The Beatles, received his companionship via video link as he could not make the ceremony.

Lester starred in the 2021 Broadway production of The Lehman Trilogy, directed by Sir Sam, with his role seeing him nominated for a Tony Award, and the actor has also appeared in BBC series Hustle, 2004 film The Day After Tomorrow and US TV series The Rook.

Others being honoured by Sir Paul were director Gay Linvill, who has directed episodes of The Big Bang Theory, and Go Live Theatre chief executive and arts accessibility campaigner Sita McIntosh. […]

Actor James Nesbitt has said he was “honoured” to receive a companionship from Sir Paul McCartney at a Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) graduation ceremony.

The 60-year-old, who starred in ITV drama Cold Feet, praised the work of students at the institute, as he was honoured alongside James Bond director Sir Sam Mendes, actor Adrian Lester and indie band The Wombats, who were formed at LIPA.

Nesbitt said at the ceremony: “I’m so honoured to accept this award from LIPA. When I visited a few months ago to speak to a group of students I was immediately struck by just what an extraordinary seat of learning this is, home to inspirational teachers and magnificent facilities out of which clearly pours creativity, innovation, passion, authenticity, collaboration and joy. After my talk I was lucky enough to see a short scene from a new take on Oklahoma. It was honestly astonishing, breathtaking and, somehow, courageous.”

From James Nesbitt ‘honoured’ to accept LIPA companionship from Paul McCartney – Jersey Evening Post