An actor who stole the screen in Channel 4’s Skins and went on to act alongside Julia Roberts and George Clooney in the film Money Monster has given his backing to Derby’s bid to become 2025 UK City of Culture.
Jack O’Connell, who was born and raised in Alvaston, on the outskirts of the city, said it would be “a more than worthy recipient of the City of Culture crown” due to its contributions to industry, engineering and culture.
Derby is one of eight cities preparing to submit bids early next month, with the winning entry set to benefit from hundreds of new jobs and billions of pounds of investment.
Adam Buss, who is spearheading Derby's campaign, told DerbyshireLive it was calculated that Hull won £3.4 billion of public and private investment after being named 2017 City of Culture, which supported almost 800 new jobs.
Jack O’Connell, 31, is a big Derby fan and even taught Angelina Jolie the local phrase “ay up, me duck” when she directed him in the war film Unbroken.
He said: “Ultimately, in Derby, being proud is a given because of the history we inherit, and more importantly, the future we strive to build.
“Derby is the place I proudly get to call my home. It has a mightily strong identity. The birthplace of a revolution responsible for catapulting the modern world into a brand-new age of innovation.
“A Derbeian wears a pride that is uniquely enriched. Our one-football-club-city mentality unites us all.
“Our advances in engineering are world renowned. Our contribution to aerospace achievements during wartime were ground-breaking. Our outstanding natural beauty and our often-overlooked arts scene.
“A more than worthy recipient of the City of Culture crown; we are the hosts of an incredibly vibrant live music scene every night and the world’s ale capital.
“Our numerous neighbouring villages and towns, each packed with charisma and charm, are home to some of the country's finest exports – Mr John Smedley would’ve told you that.”
John Smedley was an eighteenth century textiles manufacturer in Matlock, Derbyshire.
