From celebrities, to shop workers and even a descendent of William Wilberforce, the news Hull has won the UK City of Culture 2017 title has sparked celebrations throughout the city and beyond. Reporters Sam Creighton and Lucy Leeson, and photographers Kate Woolhouse and Rob Stebbing found out how people are reacting.
Former Beautiful South drummer Dave Stead says he is thrilled Hull's artistic community has been recognised by the UK City of Culture 2017 judges.
"I think it's absolutely fantastic that Hull's got the City of Culture," said Dave, who runs the Union Mash Up venue in Princes Avenue. "It's great that people, not just in this city, but on the panel judging who was going to win, have recognized that the city has an array of musicians, poets, comedians, theatre, film-makers, and that's going to be recognized all over the country. It's fantastic for all of those people.
"We've now got the feel-good factor, like when Hull City got into the Premiership. The City should be proud of itself."
As #HullYes trended worldwide on Twitter, celebrities congratulated the city. Comedian Sarah Millican said: "Congratulations to lovely Hull and all its smashing people". Emmerdale actress Gemma Oaten, who is from the city, said: "I wouldn't be where I am today without Hull pride!"
TV presenters Eamonn Holmes and Lorraine Kelly, Olympic champion Luke Campbell, Labour leader Ed Miliband and actor Reece Shearsmith, who grew up on Longhill, all added their congratulations.
The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, tweeted: "Hooray! Hull City of Culture! Congrats! The Church's motto: 'Believing in Hull' was prophetic! God believes in Hull, churches believe in Hull."
Sebastian Wilberforce, a direct descendant of William Wilberforce, the Hull MP who led the 19th century campaign for the abolition of slavery, contacted the Mail to congratulate the city.
Mr Wilberforce, who lives in New Zealand, said: "I have many fond memories of the city and its byways from my time as a university student there several decades ago. Indeed one of my life's achievements has been to get a telephone box then off the Land of Green Ginger a Grade II listing.
"Whether I get to Hull again in person is debatable since I now live on the other side of the world, but thankfully we live in the digital era – which has completely changed the experience of emigration and maintaining links with the old country."
Mail reporter reporter Sam Creighton took to the streets of Hull city centre to find out how people were reacting to the news:
Thomas Coates, 26, a labourer, said: "It means a lot for the city that we have won it. Everyone thinks Hull is a mess don't they? But it really isn't, it's a good place to live. I'm really pleased we've won it, it's put us back on the map again. I will definitely take the kids to some of the events when they happen."
Retired Maureen Morton, 67, said: "I wouldn't mind going to the theatre, there are shows I want to watch that I can't find on anywhere here, so hopefully this will bring things like that to the city, especially the opera."Kiaran Rea, 18, who is unemployed, said: "I think it's a good thing Hull has been named City of Culture. It will mean there are more jobs going around for us, I haven't got one so I might be able to get one through it. It will help boost the economy and change how people see Hull. I will go to the events, especially music and film."Dave Halford, 49, who works in business development at KC, said: "I'm not local but I've worked in Hull on and off for ten years and I've spent that time defending Hull. I think it's great news and well deserved. Hopefully, it will help bring more investment into the city which will create more jobs and make it a better place to be. It's great news I think."
Student Georgia Deer, 17, said: "I think it's quite a good thing for the city because it will bring in new people and make it more well known, for something good for once, rather than the bad things people say about it at the moment."Kathryn Lynn, 30, a marketing executive at KC, said: "I think it's brilliant, it's a massive boost for the city and it's added to the things to be proud of in Hull, we already have a Premier League football team, leading digital companies working here, we've got 4CDI and now we've got the City of Culture, so it's all good. I think it will put us on the map a bit more, we're always on the news for bad things and now we have something to shout about. The roof came off of Hull this morning when we all found out. It's well deserved and the people involved in backing the bid have been and absolute credit to the city and should be proud."
Shop worker Azeem Khan, 25, said: "It's a good think for Hull. I've lived in Birmigham, Doncaster and Wales as well, but Hull is the best one, I like Hull. The people here are the most cooperative, it's a good place. I don't have any problems with Hull at all. The extra money will help the city get even better now the City of Culture is coming here."Steve Chappell, 42, also a shop worker, said: "I'm not from Hull myself but if you speak to anybody about it, everybody says don't go here, it's not a good place to be, everyone puts it down. Since I've moved here though I've loved it, I think everyone is wonderful. I think it will make Hull even better but I think it's good at the moment, it's a good place to come already. I think it will stop people saying bad things about the place too. There's a nice atmosphere in Hull."Steve Whittington, 41, a church leader, said: "I had the radio on and the TV on to make sure I got all the coverage. It's a fantastic thing for the city, it lifts peoples expectation in the city and it releases the potential that's already here. I've been following the bid all the way through and I think Hull is the deserving winner. Out of all the cities, I think, in a lot of peoples' eyes, Hull had the lowest expectation of winning. But the people here rose up, especially on social media, and they believed that Hull could do it. I've been here for seven years now and I feel this is my city. The people of the city often find we are on the edge of the world but this will bring us into the centre of it. It will show the people of Hull that this can be an even better place for them and their family, for the UK and maybe even for Europe, providing more tourism and more reason for businesses to invest here."
Shop worker Debbie Wardell, 50, said: "Let's hope it's good for businesses, fingers crossed it's good for the city. It was good for Liverpool, so let's hope it's good for us. We need something to show that we're not the bad end of the country. We can't be all bad, we have plenty of people coming to live here."
