It’s no laugh that TV sitcom’s ‘Harper’ quits stage to take on humans rights
TV's Gabriel Thomson now at university - Credit: City & Islington college
TV comedy actor Gabriel Thomson who once starred in the BBC’s My Family sitcom has quit the stage to start life at a top London university.
The 28-year-old from Bow in east London, who played the role of ‘Michael Harper’ in the hit show, got maximum distinctions in a Humanities and Social Science Access to Higher Education diploma course at City & Islington College.
He has now taken up an offer to study Philosophy at King’s College London, hoping to get qualifications to go into human rights.
“Making people laugh is important—but I wanted a career that makes a difference,” he admits.
“I got to the point in my life where I wanted to do something useful. So I am transferring my acting skills to performance in the court room.”
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Gabriel plans to take further qualifications after his degree to become a human rights barrister.
He didn’t take A-levels at school because of his acting, but later chose the adult ‘Access’ route which prepares people without traditional qualifications to go to university.
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“Many people don’t realise that these courses exist,” Gabriel points out. “They believe there’s no chance of ever going to university if you didn’t do A-levels.
“But it’s never too late to return to education and change your life with ‘Access’ courses.”
He took his course at City & Islington’s Finsbury Park campus which provides a life-changing platform for students from all backgrounds to get to university. ‘Access’ courses instil self-belief and give students “the necessary tools” to function at university.
