The final four for the shortlist to be the UK’[s first City of Culture in 2013 have been chosen. They are Birmingham, Derry/Londonderry, Norwich and Sheffield.

They were chosen from a long list of 14 by a panel chaired by Phil Redmond, the television producer and creative director of Liverpool in its year as European Cultural Capital in 2008.

“The panel was influenced by the expected step change each city was asked to envisage, if they gained the title and subsequent media spotlight” he said.

“It was a hard choice but also heartening that all bidders had recognised the power of culture to bring people together; to work collectively within existing resources for a common goal and bring into being networks that may not have existed before.”

The four will now have to make final bids to be in by the end of May, and in the summer Redmond’s panel will see presentations from them before announcing the eventual winner.