Strabane is preparing to submit its final bid to become the first UK Town of Culture in 2028, with a visit this week from the chair of the competition's expert advisory panel adding momentum. Sir Phil Redmond, known for creating television programmes such as Grange Hill and Brookside, visited the town on Monday as part of the assessment process.

Strabane is the only town in Northern Ireland still in contention for the title. The shortlist of 15 towns will be narrowed to three finalists in January, with the winner announced in March 2027. The successful town will receive £3 million, while the two runners-up will each receive £250,000.

During his visit, Redmond met local creatives at The Farmers Home, including Eurovision singer Mickey Joe Harte and author Brian McGilloway. He said Strabane reminded him of Liverpool before that city's European City of Culture year in 2008, when it was dealing with low confidence and negative media coverage. He noted that Strabane showed a similar determination to move forward.

Redmond highlighted the town's position as a bridge between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, suggesting its shared heritage could strengthen the bid. He said the process itself can help build confidence and bring communities together, regardless of the outcome.

Addressing controversy over the use of the term 'UK' in the competition title, Redmond acknowledged it had been contentious locally. He said he had previously tried to persuade the government not to use 'British City of Culture' for Derry's campaign, and added that if Strabane wins, people could simply call it 'town of culture' if they preferred.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Grace Uí Niallais, said the visit showcased support for the campaign from community organisations, businesses, artists and young people. She said the council was committed to submitting a strong bid by the November deadline.

Redmond said he was struck by the welcome he received and the enthusiasm of local people. He thanked everyone involved in the visit and said he looked forward to receiving the full bid submission. The council continues to encourage residents, artists and businesses to support the campaign.