Film legend Sharif tells of Yorkshire love affair

The film star, who was in Hull to receive an honorary degree, became acquainted with Hull and its football club through his old friend Sir Tom Courtenay.

Sharif starred in Dr Zhivago with Hull-born Sir Tom, who is a lifelong Tigers supporter.

The 78-year-old actor said: "I've been dreaming about coming to Hull since 1966 when I met my friend Tom Courtenay and we shared a flat and we made two consecutive films Dr Zhivago and The Night of the Generals.

"We kept talking about Hull City Football Club and Waggy (the striker Ken Wagstaff) so I became an idoliser of this team."

Sharif, who was due to visit the KC Stadium for the first time last night, added: "I love Hull. I would not have gone to any other city to get a degree.

"I wouldn't have gone to Oxford or Cambridge.

"I've never seen it, but I love it and I love it without knowing what it's like."

Sharif said over the years he'd been a "crazy" Hull City fan – ringing up the club to find out the score from remote locations round the globe.

He said he had not abandoned them since their relegation but felt "they are going down a bit."

When told there were women in the audience at the graduation ceremony wearing "I Love Omar" T-shirts, Sharif said: "They are wasting their time. I'm too old. I'm thinking about my grandchildren now."

Born Michael Demitri Shalhoub in 1932 in Alexandria, Egypt, he attended Alexandria's Victoria College, then Cairo University, graduating in mathematics and physics, before winning international acclaim with the film Lawrence of Arabia.

He now lives in Cairo with his family.

The actor was flown to Hull as part of a visit hosted by businessman Assem Allam, who moved to Britain from Egypt in the 1960s.