EastEnders TV star Richard Blackwood was the surprise special guest on stage for the academic awards of New City College students.

Richard, who played Vincent Hubbard in the BBC soap until earlier this year, heard students’ personal stories and how they overcame tragedies.

Anas Al-Humsi who won ‘student of the year’ award for English as a second language had personal tragedy when his family were killed in the war in Syria. He made most of the journey to Britain on foot, enrolled in the college and is now aiming for a career as an electrician.

He was one of 28 students from three campuses in Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Redbridge handed awards by the actor.

Fouziha Rahman, who got the ‘adult learner of the year’ title, joined the access course after recovery from brain injury in an accident which almost ended her life, with just a three per cent survival rate. She completed the course with 11 distinctions and four merits.

Arkin Attila-Murray won the ‘contributing to college life’ award for producing a film on knife crime to get young people to stop and think.

Mohammed Hussain, who won the award for academic achievement while studying for a BTEC science diploma, has battled kidney disease.