TODAY the winner of the City of Culture 2025 bid will be revealed.

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries, will announce which area will be crowned UK City of Culture 2025 just after 7pm on The One Show.

Southampton is competing for the title alongside fellow finalists County Durham, Bradford and Wrexham County Borough.

Cllr Eamonn Keogh, Cabinet Member for Transport and District Regeneration, will be among those tuning in on BBC One.

Read more: UK City of Culture 2025: Everything you need to know as winner to be announced

He said: "I will be holding my breath like everyone else.

"I think Southampton's got a lot going for it - a city that looks proudly back at its history but also looks forward to what can happen in the future.

"It's about time that a city along the south coast is given that honour."

The UK City of Culture programme was developed by the Government to build on the success of Liverpool as European Capital of Culture 2008 by creating a national cultural event spread over a year and focused on a particular city or area.

The title is said to bring investment worth £220m, create 800 new jobs and boost tourism opportunities.

Read more: Five places that prove Southampton should be crowned the City of Culture

Discussing the benefits the title would bring to the city, Cllr Keogh said: "I think the City of Culture would be fantastic for the city because of the funding it could bring.

"We want City of Culture to reach every area of Southampton. Hopefully this will tie in with our tranport proposals and improving our district centres."

He added: "We haven't won it yet but if we do it's that inward investment it brings into the city. I think people will respond to that opportunity, no-one gets left behind."

City of Culture judges visited Southampton on May 13 led by chair Sir Phil Redmond CBE.

The ten-person panel was greeted by Weston Park Primary School who cheered and waved enthusiastically on Weston Shore as the judges sailed past.

Accompanied by the bid team, judges met community groups, creatives, artists, and businesses who are supporting the bid.

Read more: What judges have been up to during their visit to Southampton

They later enjoyed lunch prepared by City College hospitality students, under the guidance of MasterChef winner and SO25 UK City of Culture Chair Shelina Permaloo.

Speaking when the announcement date was confirmed, Director for Southampton's City of Culture bid, Claire Whitaker OBE, said: “After three long years and untold hard work and commitment by a huge amount of people - to whom I give heartfelt thanks - it will be great to know that by Tuesday evening it will have been announced that Southampton has been successful, or not, in its bid to become UK City of Culture 2025.

“I’ve been thrilled at the way the city and the wider region have come together and I’m confident that we couldn’t have done any more.”

Who do you think will win the title? Let us know in our poll.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News