Hull named as the UK's City of Culture 2017

Judges have chosen Hull as Britain’s City of Culture 2017 over Leicester, Swansea Bay, and Dundee.

17:00 20 November 2013

Beating stiff competition from Leicester, Swansea Bay and Dundee, Hull has been chosen as the UK’s City of Culture 2017. Judges described it as “city coming out of the shadows.” As a surefire result of this honour, Hull is expected to see a sharp economic boost.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Maria Miller said: "This is brilliant news for Hull and everyone involved in the bid there.”

"This year's UK City of Culture, Derry-Londonderry, demonstrates the huge benefits that the title brings. These include encouraging economic growth, inspiring social change and bringing communities together.

"It can produce a wonderful mix of inward investment and civic pride, and I hope Hull's plans will make the most of all that being UK City of Culture can bring."

Addressing the three losing cities, Ms Miller said: "I hope they will still take forward many of the fantastic ideas and events they had planned so that their communities can enjoy these innovative cultural plans,"

TV producer Phil Redmond, who was involved in the selection of winner, explains: "Ultimately it was the unanimous verdict of the panel that Hull put forward the most compelling case based on its theme as 'a city coming out of the shadows'.