Where is the UK City Of Culture 2021? Coventry crowned the winner after Hull was selected in 2017
Stoke-on-Trent, Swansea, Sunderland, and Paisley were also on the shortlist all hoping to claim the crown
COVENTRY has been named as the UK City of Culture for 2021.
The city triumphed over Swansea, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland and the town of Paisley.
The winner was announced live on The One Show – here's where else was on the shortlist, and how the West Midlands city will benefit from its victory.
Which cities were on the UK City of Culture 2021 shortlist?
Five cities were shortlisted for the 2021 UK City of Culture competition.
Stoke-on-Trent, Swansea, Sunderland, Coventry and Paisley are all hoping to claim the crown.
Paisley was the favourite to win, according to Ladbrokes, with odds of 5/4.
Swansea was second at 3/1, followed by Coventry at 4/1 and Sunderland at 6/1.
Stoke languished last in the bookies rankings at 8/1.
However, the bookies' predictions turned out to be wide of the mark, as Coventry in the West Midlands was named the winner live on a special edition of The One Show.
The city will now benefit from an economic boost fuelled by greater tourism and increased confidence in local businesses.
Not to mention the £3million Heritage Lottery Fund grant that comes with victory.
The final decision is made by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
A panel of judges first had the chance to make their recommendation to the government department based on the cities’ bids.
Who won in 2017?
The winner of the 2017 UK City of Culture was Hull in East Yorkshire.
The port city was named winner in 2013 after seeing off stiff competition for the accolade from Dundee, Leicester and Swansea.
Hull City Council leader Stephen Brady said at the time the honour, awarded every four years, would help the city shake off its drab reputation that has seen it become a fixture of the notorious Crap Towns book series.
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The city has seen hundreds of cultural events since the year-long Hull 2017 celebrations began in January.
Hundreds of thousands of people have flocked to the events which culminated in the Turner Prize being awarded in the city this week.
One of the most high profile of those was Blade, in which a 250ft long wind turbine blade was placed in the city centre.
And the Queen was greeted by cheering crowds after arriving in Hull last month to celebrate its City of Culture 2017 accolade.