Pegg: Working with 'Spock' was nuts

1:04am Friday 5th December 2008

Actor and comedian Simon Pegg said it was "nuts" working alongside Star Trek star Leonard Nimoy in the remake of the classic sci-fi franchise.

The star of hit films such as Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz and How To Lose Friends And Alienate People, was speaking ahead of an honorary graduation ceremony in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

Pegg was in town to join hundreds of students at Cheltenham Racecourse to receive an honorary fellowship from the University of Gloucestershire.

University chiefs decided to award Pegg, who hails from the county, for his "outstanding contribution to the arts".

Ahead of the ceremony, dressed in graduation robes, Pegg chatted to reporters and media students about his forthcoming role in the Hollywood remake of Star Trek, set for release next May. He said: "To be part of something so iconic was incredible. I've been watching that show since I was a small child."

Pegg, who will play engineer Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott in the new adaptation, said he was overwhelmed by his scenes with Leonard Nimoy - who played half-human, half-alien Spock in the original series. "To work alongside someone like Leonard Nimoy was completely nuts," he said.

The 38-year-old was born in Gloucester and went to school in nearby Brockworth, before studying drama at the University of Bristol.

Pegg moved to London in the early 90s and performed regularly on the stand-up comedy circuit, before heading into television and later film.

He added: "I'm honoured to be receiving this fellowship, not least because it comes from an area very special to my heart. No matter where I go, Gloucester will always be my home and I can't wait to come back for this special visit."

Pegg ruled out any future projects for television, but said he had completed a movie screenplay with long-time friend and screen partner Nick Frost - a road movie called Paul.