Cross address

(Photograph) - Cross address: comedian Eddie Izzard has backed students and staff fighting plans to close the University of East Anglia's languages and drama departments. Mr Izzard, who holds an honorary DLett from UEA, said managers risked ruining the university's reputation for pushing academic boundaries if they went ahead with the closures. Campaigners are hoping Mr Izzard will join a lobby of UEA's governing court on Friday. Photograph by LEN PRINCE