It’s a quiet start to the week and I almost, but not quite, thought it might be fun to look at what Cheryl and Liam might call their newly-born.
I’m surprised that bookmakers aren’t yet laying odds on whether baby will end up in a boy band, though that’s a bit long-term for most punters. You can, however, get a price on what junior will be called. Simon has been popular given his mother’s close relationship with Simon Cowell. Maybe he’ll be named after one of his father’s fellow band members but maybe this also isn’t a great topic for discussion. If I were mum or dad, I’d be looking to cash in but let’s move onto something more cultural – the next UK City Of Culture to be exact.
It was Derry-Londonderry in 2013 and, this year, Hull is celebrating the title and doing its best to make the rest of the country think a trip to Humberside is worthwhile.
So we’ve had Northern Ireland now England, will it be Wales or Scotland’s turn in 2021?
A case could certainly be made for a Scottish city. Westminster will be desperate to distract the Scots from further talk of a second independence referendum. Awarding the City Of Culture to Perth or Paisley is unlikely to be enough to appease Nicola Sturgeon and the more independently-minded members of her SNP inner sanctum but it would remind the rest of Scotland that London still considers those north of Hadrian’s Wall as very much part of the UK.
I’m not sure about Paisley and culture in the same sentence but Perth has Scone Palace, Huntingtower Castle and several whisky distilleries and is set in stunning countryside. It is definitely prettier than Hull and Ladbrokes make the Gateway to the Highlands their second favourite behind Coventry (yes, THAT Coventry) at 3/1 to be the 2021 City Of Culture.
2021 City Of Culture Ladbrokes Odds
Coventry (2/1), Perth (3/1), Paisley, Portsmouth, Sunderland and Swansea (8/1), Stoke (10/1), St Davids (16/1), Warrington, Wells and Hereford (20/1)
