I disagree that acting in a soap is not real acting; that's not to say they are all good actors, but that could be said of a lot of actors, current and past.
One of Britain's finest actresses, IMHO,is Sue Johnston - she started in Brookside and has gone on to do many other things, including, her wonderful characters - Barbara Royle in The Royle Family, Grace Foley in Waking the Dead, and Sal Vine in Jam and Jerusalem, showing her multi talented expertise in three entirely different characterisations.
Whether Pam Clements merits her Honorary Doctorate, I don't know, I don't know the circumstances, but It doesn't worry me either way.