Nesbitt backs Londonderry bid

Though awaiting BAFTA success for his acclaimed drama "occupation" in the up-coming television awards he was not too "occupied" to take time out of his busy schedule to give his backing to the Londonderry bid.

The Iraq-based drama has been nominated in the Best Drama Serial category and while the Coleraine-born star will be keeping his fingers crossed for success when the winners are announced on June 6, he's also hoping that Derry will emerge victorious in its own awards contest.

"Derry-Londonderry is a remarkable city. It is a proud city rich in heritage and culture.

"And when it comes to arts, the city has always punched well above the weight of cities of its size, anywhere in the world," he said.

Nesbitt is of course Chancellor of the University of Ulster whose thriving Magee campus provides him with an on-going association with city.

Through that role, the Cold Feet and Murphy's Law star is very aware of the city's status as an incubator for blossoming artistic talent.

"I was very honoured recently to be appointed Chancellor of the University of Ulster and I'm proud that colleagues in the University are lending their full support and applying their creativity to the bid.

"The city has an impressive record in nurturing creative talent through education whether it is on the university's Magee campus or through schools like St Columb's College which have nurtured diverse talents such as Seamus Heaney, Paul Brady, Brian Friel and Gerard McSorley or Foyle and Londonderry College whose distinguished alumni include Eva Birthistle and Amanda Burton," he said.

Having starred as Ivan Cooper in Paul Greengrass' award-winning film Bloody Sunday Nesbitt has a strong sense of the city's history and identity.

He believes that its ability to maintain a thriving cultural scene even during the darkest days of the troubles underlines the resilience of the city's artistic community.

And he feels that winning City of Culture status would allow not just the city, but the whole region to show the richness of cultural diversity that exists not just in the city itself but in the whole region.

"When you look at the wealth of cultural venues from the Nerve Centre to the Playhouse Theatre, the Verbal Arts Centre, the Waterside Theatre, the Void and Context Galleries, the Millennium Forum and the Foyle Arts Centre at Magee, you can see why the city made the final shortlist of four for the UK City of Culture.

"It's a city that did a remarkable job in keeping the arts vibrant during the grim days of the Troubles and in the years that have followed the city has gone culturally from strength to strength.

"As someone who has worked in the city, I know only too well why Londonderry would be a wonderful choice for city of culture and I know what it would mean to its citizens.

"But as someone who is a native of neighbouring Coleraine, I also know what a boost it would be to the entire north west of Northern Ireland and the province in general."