Shropshire Star

Katie Derham ‘proud as could be’ with daughter’s results

Natasha Vincent will study in New York next year after getting an A* in theatre studies with Bs in French and English literature.

Published
Natasha Vincent

Presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Katie Derham said she is “as proud as could be” with her daughter’s A-level results.

Natasha Vincent has achieved an A* in theatre studies with Bs in French and English literature at Brighton College.

She has a place to study at the New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts next year.

Speaking to the Press Association, Derham, the 48-year-old BBC Proms presenter and 2015 Strictly finalist, who lives in Sussex, said: “I’m as proud as could be. I’m so delighted. She’s done so well.

“It brought it all flooding back, that slightly sick feeling (waiting to get your results).

“I’m very envious (of Natasha studying in New York) and it’s such a good school. It’s a good excuse to go and visit.”

Her 18-year-old daughter said: “I’m feeling very happy. I got the results I wanted. The grades don’t mean as much to me as my marks.

A-level results
Students celebrate their A-level results at Brighton College (Gareth Fuller/PA)

“It’s always going to be stressful, I wanted to do well for my parents.

“I knew I had my place at NYU so I think I found it less stressful than some other people.

“I’m really excited about moving to New York. It’s the hub of theatre, it’s a great opportunity and a great place to live.”

Before she starts her course she hopes to get work experience with theatre production companies and also get a job, but she is not planning a career in presenting like her mother.

“I’m not going into presenting. But I’m keeping my options open for later in life. I just want to study drama and see where that takes me.”

Derham joked: “No-one wants to do what their mum does.”

Another student who excelled in performing arts and hopes to make her famous grandfather proud is Dixie McDevitt.

She is the granddaughter of the late actor Ken Campbell, known for his one-man shows and appearances in several sitcoms including Fawlty Towers. Her mother, Daisy Campbell, is a director and Dixie has dreams of running her own theatre company.

Dixie McDevitt
Dixie McDevitt is the granddaughter of the late actor Ken Campbell (Gareth Fuller/PA)

She has already written and directed her own play – The Snowflake System – about leaving school, growing up and contributing to society, which will be performed in Brighton in the coming weeks.

The 18-year-old, from Brighton, got A*s in English literature and theatre studies and an A in Spanish. She is taking a gap year before studying English literature at Cambridge.

She said: “I’m feeling great, relieved. You try and prepare for the worst-case scenario.

“My mum is absolutely thrilled and I think my granddad would have been thrilled too.”

Another performing hopeful is opera singer Nell Parry, who is already making tracks in the music world having appeared at Glyndebourne.

The 18-year-old, of Sussex, got A*s in maths, further maths and physics, and an A in chemistry.

She is going to study physics at Imperial College London but has a music scholarship from the Royal College of Music.

She said: “I’m really happy with the results and also that I have my scholarship alongside my degree. I love singing and that’s what I want to do really, but I’m also really looking forward to my degree.”

Overall, 99% of Brighton College students achieved A* to B grades with 81.9% being A* or A.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.