Brian May becomes university chancellor

Queen's Brian May has been named the new chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University.

The guitarist will take up the post in early 2008, following on from Cherie Booth, the wife of Tony Blair.

May, who gained a doctorate in astrophysics earlier this year from Imperial College London, has described the job as "a great honour and a great new challenge".

The rocker had originally given up his doctorate when he formed Queen with Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor in 1970.

John Moores University's vice chancellor said in a statement: "Brian May is an intensely talented individual who achieved global success with Queen.

"In this age of celebrity culture, it is rare to find someone who has fame, fortune and universal acclaim and yet who remains true to his core values of learning and enlightenment."