ACTOR Tom Courtenay is backing Hull's proposal for City of Culture 2017 as the team add the finishing touches to the bid. Sir Tom, who is one of the world's most celebrated stars of screen and stage, came to Hull less than two weeks before the bid is to be submitted on Monday, September 30.
He was filming yesterday for the proposal at Corporation Pier near Hull Marina.
Sir Tom said: "The team asked me to film in Hull for the UK City of Culture 2017 bid.
"How could I not? I am delighted to support Hull's bid."
The actor came to prominence in the early 1960s and starred in films such as Doctor Zhivago, Billy Liar and The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner.
Isabelle Tracy, member of the bid team and chief executive of Volcom, was delighted to have the veteran actor on board and said the bid is almost complete.
She said: "There are a lot of technical documents as well as the exciting stuff about the city.
"They need tweaking and we need to join a few dots to make sure it is compelling, and then off it goes.
"There will come a time when we just have to say, 'it's done'.
"The public backing for the bid has been fantastic.
"We currently have more 'likes' on Facebook than any of the other three finalists, with 5,000 fans.
"The city built up a wonderful summer of festivals, once Humber Street Sesh was over we were straight into the Folk Festival and then Freedom.
"This weekend we have Hull Trinity Festival and people know these events haven't just been organised because of the bid.
"These are festivals that have been building up over the years."
The 1,000th person to have their photograph taken in the City of Culture frame also posed for a snap at Ferens Art Gallery.
Teacher Sara Langford brought her class from Ormiston South Parade Academy in Grimsby to visit the attraction.
She said: "I used to work in Hull and it's great to bring the children here to learn about art.
"I hope it does win City of Culture and it will bring a lot more people to Hull and help to create jobs."
Councillor Steven Bayes, portfolio holder for the City of Culture bid, said the amount of support people have shown the bid by getting in the frame has been "phenomenal."
He said: "Everywhere the frame has been, it has caught people's attention."
Ms Tracy said if the city won she would host a party and celebrate with champagne and locally brewed beer.
She said: "You don't get to this stage overnight and I'm pretty confident we will get it."
The winner of City of Culture will be announced in November.
