Anne marie tasker and kofi smiles report on the highlights of hulls year as britains City Of Culture. Hello, and welcome to hull, which, for the whole of 2017 is the uks City Of Culture. And this is the Humber Bridge, just the latest location to take part in the 365 Day Celebration of arts and culture. Pulled between stars and asteroids, meteors and satellites. This stunning landmark is being turned into a giant musical instrument, taking you on a sonic journey across the humber. And ive been on myjourneys, too, exploring the cultural links between this maritime city and its sister city of reykjavik. I think all this talk about girls not boxing is old fashioned. E we will also find out how womens boxing pioneer Barbara Buttrick is finally being recognised in her home city. Im annemarie tasker, and im the arts and Culture Correspondent for the bbc here in hull, and this is kofi smiles. Im the face of hull, chosen by bbc to tell the world about the City Of Culture. Were on top of the Humber Bridge. Over there is lincolnshire, and behind you is the city of hull. This is one of the norths most famous landmarks. It has stunning views and is an amazing piece of engineering. By the way, it is 156 metres tall, thats just under 500 feet. Just a bit shorter than the blackpool tower. I dont know how ill get down from here, but i guess i will cross that bridge when i come to it. Ill let you into a little secret theres actually a lift up to here. Oh, my gosh this was us earlier, getting all of the people and the kids up to the top of the Humber Bridge, and if you take a look over the edge, you can see the very first people to experience the Humber Bridge as a musical instrument. The swans bend their necks backwards to see god. They know the magnetism of the blue space. Listening through headphones, theyre hearing a piece of work which combines music with poetry and sounds of the bridge as it creaks and sways in the wind. Heres lucy hester to explain. Many of us will have driven across the bridge, taking in the sights of the humber river, but this unique project is hoping to inspire people to walk along its mile long length and get lost in incredible sounds. The east coast links to Scandinavia Go back to the vikings, so norwegian composers have been chosen to create a musical guided walk across the bridge. Today, in arctic temperatures, these men are walking the bridge together for the first time. Its a fantastic construction and its so much bigger than i expected. It has been interesting to walk across the bridge together and to actually hear the sound of the bridge in itself. And uniquely, it is the noises of the bridge makes which will form the basis of the piece. Field recordistjez riley french has been given the job of capturing them. I have to admit, i was very sceptical when jez started testing the railings on the bridge, to see which one sounded the most musical. I think this maybe this one. This one. Yeah, this section here, i think. Yeah, lets try this. Go on then, i cant hear a thing. Jez sticks little Contact Microphones onto the railings to capture their sounds. If i play them, you will hear. I cant believe that. Its amazing, isnt it . Wow youre right, i take everything back, its completely musical. And its these raw sounds that jan has his team have been transforming into a piece for orchestra and chorus. Today, the Opera North Orchestra is recording its part. The choral parts have arrived, and the chorus has one day to learn and record them. You have to sing very quietly, so that is a challenge funnily enough, because it is quite opposite to what were normally asked to do. At Bude Park Primary School in hull, one of opera norths singing schools, auditions are taking place for the voice of the Humber Bridge. The child who will be the narrator on the wall. My name is katie and im going to keep you company on yourjourney to the bridge. Eight year old katie smith has been chosen to be the voice of the Humber Bridge. I think it will be a bit weird hearing myself, but it is going to be pretty cool. Its a long walk ahead, i hope you have strong shoes. Look up this is an extraordinary soaring piece of music, and to think that it came originally from the very sounds of the bridge itself. It only really makes sense when youre out here. Its fantastic. That looked amazing. So we popped back down to the bridge and were going to have a go at it. Its an opportunity to walk along an iconic part of hull, along the Humber Bridge, and really enjoy it with an extra experience that you wouldnt normally have the opportunity to do. Its brilliant, you appreciate the environment more. Youre in the zone, kind of thing. It makes you think differently, having the music directing what youre thinking and then you look out at the scene and that. Its good. It is amazing, i enjoyed it. Usually ijust drive by, but i never do this experience, walking across. It has been a long time since i walked the bridge, and this just added to the atmosphere. Its fantastic. You only have to look across from the Humber Bridge to see that this is an area which has close links to the sea. Hull was a majorfishing port, and one of its Sister Cities is reykjavik, the capital of iceland. Later this month, a major Music Festival is planned in the City Of Culture to celebrate those maritime links. Its curated by an Award Winning musician, john grant, an american now living in iceland. He showed me around reykjavik and explain some of the similarities between the cities. Welcome to iceland home of the fjords, trolls and an unexpectedly good football team. But what does that have to do with hull, the uk City Of Culture . For one thing, reykjavik is one of hulls Sister Cities. Through the Fishing Industry they have traded with each otherfor 700 years, sometimes peacefully and sometimes in less friendly circumstances. They were both listed in the worlds top ten cities to visit by rough guides in 2016. It is said that the cobblestones in hulls old town were brought from iceland by fishermen. But there are cultural links, too. Thats what im here for. North atlantic flux, one of the major Music Festivals of the city of Culture Programme will celebrate hulls nordic connections. This is its curator, john grant. John grant is an american who has lived in reykjavik for the past five years. In fact, he is such a nordic native that he co wrote icelands 2014 entry into the eurovision song contest. I metjohn at this coffee shop, his favourite place in reykjavik, and the setting for his Pale Green Ghost album art. Hull is a place that has been on my radarfor a long time. Several of the artists i admire have deep connections to hull. So for example cosey fanni tutti, tracy thorn then lene lovich, i didnt know was connected to hull. So theres these very Strong Female voices from hull that i have been listening to and influenced by four decades. I think that is interesting because hull is known for its resilient powerhouse women. The head scarf revolutionaries. Yes, exactly. These women who single handedly, i think it was down to four women who brought about these protests after the Triple Trawler tragedy. Can you take me through the festival you have curated for 2017 . You will see a good mix of what hull has to offer, but also things from the North Atlantic. It is quite scandinavian. And then some of my favourite things from around britain. Because britain has been instrumental pun intended, i guess in forming my musical dna and vocabulary through my life. It is a very important place for me. Clearly this festival is no ordinary gig forjohn. Hes genuinely invested in the story of hull and its connection to the North Atlantic. After our coffee he showed me another favourite spot of his. This church, just like holy trinity in hull, is the focal point of reykjaviks skyline. I do feel like both, even though there have been hardships and animosity between iceland and hull, there are still a lot of similarities as far as a people who are very much connected to the sea. What that does in terms of Building Character and your relationship to nature, i think thats something that the two very much have in common. The sea separates us, but also gives us this shared history and natural understanding of each others heritage. Historically, men from both cities would trawl for fish in these waters, which led to overfishing and a breakdown in relations known as the cod wars. But now, through music and art, that is a friendship that thrives on several levels. This is whatjohn and his friends will celebrate in hull at North Atlantic flux, and that is why i will be there at the front of the crowd. Still ahead, one of hulls most famous daughters on inspiring the next generation of performers. God, if that white haired woman in spectacles can be on telly, so can i and the man who swapped prog rock for classical stardom. But first, heres my guide to some of the other hull 2017 highlights and a look ahead at what is to come. In march, the 75 metre Wind Turbine Blade that sparked a citywide debate about what art is was moved to a new home. It left a void in the centre of hull for about five days quickly replaced by the famous weeping window poppy sculpture. I think it literally represents a piece of our history that is relevant now, and then its just, let it go and see what people think. Fuzzfeed, which launched in february, takes the real conversations from the young people of hull and acts them out with puppets. You drive through manchester to get somewhere. You dont drive through hull, its like last stop. Scarborough. What . You drive through hull to get to scarborough, dont you . I dont know, probably. An incredible collection of Celebrity Portraits is currently on display at the university of hull. It is a rare chance to see the entire collection of paintings from the winners of the national bp portrait award. You come in and people are really excited. It is always really busy, and it was never this busy before, so it is really nice having the publicity, not just for the City Of Culture, but also for the Art Collection in general. Flood, an epic year long show, continued with part two to the sea. Part one was online, and three will be broadcast on bbc tv. And theres lots more to come, including richard iii starting matt fraser, and a piece of gig theatre by hull Company Middle child. Its a play in a nightclub, punctuated by live music from local bands. One of the unexpected things about City Of Culture is it has unearthed some remarkable Success Stories that have either been ignored orforgotten. And thats stories about all sorts of culture, and notjust the obvious ones like music and theatre, but sport, specifically boxing. Barbara buttrick was born in hull and was the worlds first womens boxing champion in the 1960s. We sent former boxerjohnny nelson, a world champion, to meet her. To become the best boxer in the world takes commitment. But for one fighter, the toughest battle was just trying to set foot in the ring. But Barbara Buttrick went on to become the worlds first womens boxing champion. And trained in the same gym as mohammad ali. Under five foot tall, she was known as the mighty atom. Now at 87, it is more than 70 years since barbara found love with boxing, living in cottingham, near hull. On my bedroom wall, as a kid, i had all boxers, so i bought myself a Harness Thing that you put a football in and made a punch bag out of it. But an article inspired her to make it her career. Your friends mother give you some newspaper to clean your boots . That is the Newspaper Clipping and it tells about polly burns, who travelled with the boxing booth. I thought, if she can do it so can i. Let me try boxing. Typist by day, boxer by night, barbara headed to london to find a trainer and opponents. I think all this talk about girls not boxing is old fashioned. Girls arent the delicate flowers they used to be. Anyhow, my boyfriend doesnt mind. Soon barbara was making headlines, but none of them very positive. Ban this girl boxer. The criticism, micky wood said weve made the front page again, and i said, but look what theyre saying. He said dont read it, measure it. She took to fighting any woman who would challenge her, including fairground boxing booths. Nobody would encourage it, they were so down on it i guess they put the other girls completely off. Fed up with fairgrounds, barbara searched further afield for opponents, and that took her to america, and in 1957 came the moment she dreamt of. She finally got a professional licence and beat Phyllis Kugler to become the worlds first womens boxing champion. It is nice to know youre the best in the world, isnt it. You know that too. The title brought her to the epicentre of the boxing world, the place where Angelo Dundee trained muhammad ali, miami beachs fifth st gym. Today, the fifth st gyms in a new building, but inside the history lives on. I see pictures on the wall of Angelo Dundee, muhammad ali, you were here when these guys were here. Yes i was. Muhammad ali was just cassius clay then, he was very young. He was confident of himself, and very showy. You mention these names, you talk about thee people as though it is nothing to you, but these are history makers. They supported me. I was accepted then. In 1960, barbara retired, having won 30 fights, drawn one and lostjust one, but she did not say goodbye to boxing. She set up the Womens International boxing federation and gave women titles to fight for. And in 2012, she came to london to watch women box for olympic medals for the first time in history. Among them, two times gold medallist nicola adams. It is because of woman like her thats made it possible for me to box today. It was quite tough for me, womens boxing was not really accepted so i cant imagine how hard it must have been for her to keep pushing and training and try to be taken seriously. I have to say a big thank you to barbara for paving the way. If i was a kid today i would be in my glory, just pack my gym bag and walk off the same as anyone else, and go in the gym and work out. I think its terrific. When barbara put on herfirst pair of Boxing Gloves more than seven decades ago, she could only dream that girls would be welcomed into boxing gyms. But it could never have happened without barbara leading the way. Barbaras life has inspired a brand new play at hull truck theatre. Where she was finally recognised in her home city at the women of the world festival. Wow was held in hull for the very first time this year, though it started life back in 2011, at the South Bank Centre in london. It is now held in venues around the globe, and as well as barbara, it also celebrated the work of Hull ComediansMaureen Lipman and lucy beaumont. They have recorded an episode of the bbc radio 4 comedy to hull and back in front of a live audience. Dear alan titchmarsh, please let me aunty pamela like me. Shes coming over for my birthday and i want to go back with her to live in amsterdam with the dutch. You . Her . Do you know what the women do in amsterdam . Yes. What . They make cheese. Cheese. Maureen lipman is one of the best exports of hull with a career in stage, tv and radio spanning decades. Annemarie caught up with her backstage at the hull city hall. Do you think there are things that the audience in hull will pick up that maybe went over the heads of a radio 4 audience . I think when i call her surfy people will realise that were both the real mccoy. As a Woman Working in the performing arts, do you find that you are treated differently asa woman . The arts have always been a bit more Level Pegging for women, and who would have thought that after Second Wave Feminism that the most popular book for that length of time would have been 50 shades of grey, which is very definitely putting us back over a mans knee. It is obscene, really, but women, sometimes we are our own worse enemy. We dont go for it, we dont sit forward. The number of times i have heard women say i hate my this, i hate my nose, i hate my breasts, i hate my legs, not to mention i have never heard a woman say i was right for that part and i deserved it. Are you hoping that by you and lucy being here as women who have achieved in the arts and are out there showing that woman from hull can do it, are you hoping that you can might, in some small way, make a step towards changing that . I dont really have the arrogance. Yes, i am arrogant, but i dont have that kind of belief that im changing anything. I am just making people laugh. And i come from hull. Thats about it. And i think lucy would probably agree. It is drip, drip, drip, isnt it, with womens rights . If theres one kid out there who thinks, god, if that white haired woman with spectacles can be on telly, so can i. Living in london, have you found that people in the capital look at hull differently since we became City Of Culture . It has always been regarded with a bit of a snigger, hasnt it, end of the line, hull, but it was always funky. Theyjust didnt know it. Now people coming in and they will see it as folksy and funky and feisty and the other f word as well. The music on the Humber Bridge is just one of the many pieces specifically commissioned for 2017. There will be all sorts of styles and genres, including a brand new work from one of classical musical superstars, sir karljenkins. Heres Caroline Milton with more. His music is known to millions from adiemus. To his most highly acclaimed and popular piece, the armed man. Sir karljenkins is britains most Successful Living classical composer, so when hulls Philharmonic Orchestra were looking for someone to write a special piece of work for 2017, they knew who to turn to. With the City Of Culture, we wanted a real celebration of this amazing concert room. We can use the organ, and why dont we try and commission a composer to write a piece especially for us . And who better to go for karljenkins . They are the nations leading amateur symphony orchestra, and have performed in hulls city hall for over 130 years. A hall famous for its magnificent organ. They wanted a piece of music that would celebrate that. For a composer best known for his choral music, it would be a break from the norm, but an opportunity too good to miss. City of culture is an amazing thing and to be part of it was wonderful that i was asked, to write an organ piece for this organ. It ticks all the boxes. Experimenting with music is how his career began. In fact, the last time he played in hull was while performing with The 70s Jazz Rock Grip soft machine. But in a career that spans over three decades, he has never written music for an organ like this before. In this age, nowadays, sounds are digitised, and you press a button and you get something, but inside that thing theres an actual bass drum with something hitting it. When you want a bass drum sound on a glockenspiel, its played with hammers. It is quite incredible, really. 6000 pipes is, in sir karls words, quirky and oddball. A celebration of hulls history, people and traditions. And at its heart, the organ, played by jonathan scott. It has an amazing power, theres 95 stops altogether, over four keywords and a full pedal board you play with your feet. It will obliterate an orchestra, as well as accompany them. They are amazing musical instruments. If you think through time you think bach, beethoven, brahms, if they have been here when you were playing their piece, it would have been an amazing experience. The composers here, they write these pieces, and theyre sort of baring their soul, and put it out there, and they want it to sound great, and so were all making it sound the best everyone can make it. The World Premiere of 6000 pipes played to a sell out audience. In february of next year. Thats it from the top of the Humber Bridge and our birds eye view of the City Of Culture. I hope you enjoyed the show and we will be back next month. When we e will look ahead to the radio one big weekend, an exclusive interview with a spider from mars and well meet the army of hull 2017 volunteers. That is all coming up in may, but if you need a culture fix in the meantime go to our website. Bye bye. Bye now. We have got a chilly night on the way. Temperatures across scotland, in the rural areas, could be as low as minus eight degrees. It will not be nearly as cold as that for most of us. This is the cloud cover right now, it is fairly broken in some areas. Some of us now, it is fairly broken in some areas. Some of us are now, it is fairly broken in some areas. Some of us are seeing sunshine. Some showers around across Northern Areas this evening and overnight. Reaching east anglia and maybe london. For most of us it will be dry. Widespread era frost across the northern part of the uk. Temperatures close to zero. Some of us temperatures close to zero. Some of us waking up to a frosty morning, but a sunny one. This is what it will look like at 8am. Most of us will look like at 8am. Most of us will be going to work. The wind is life so it will not feel too cold. Hardly a cloud in the sky across this part of the uk. More cloud in Northern Ireland. This is a weak Weather Front that will gradually increase the cloud across Northern Ireland and Western Scotland and then later in the afternoon there may be some drizzle in the Western Isles full disguise may turn his day across some northern parts of england and wales. The best of the sunshine crossed east lincolnshire, east lancashire, temperatures around 1214. East lancashire, temperatures around 12 14. High east lancashire, temperatures around 12 111. High pressure is going to stay with us for most of the week but it will be mostly affecting the southern part of the uk. Here is wednesday. In the north we are closer to weather france, so that means thicker cloud and spots of rain. Not much changing towards the end of the week. The warmest weather will be across southern areas. With High Pressure close by and little rain on the way, the afternoon should not be too cold. The mornings will be frosty. Another quiet week on the way, little rain, which is not necessarily good news if you are a gardener and you want some rain. This is bbc news. The headlines us Vice President mike pence warns that his countrys era of strategic patience with north korea is over. Prince harry reveals hes had counselling, to help him come to terms with the death of his mother. I can safely say that losing my mum at the age of 12 and therefore shutting down all of my emotions for the last 20 years has had a quite serious effect on not only my personal life but also my work as well. Turkeys president Erdogan Promises to press ahead with new sweeping powers, after narrowly winning the constitutional referendum. At least 12 people suffer burns, after a suspected acid attack at a london nightclub. Also this hour cracking down on smuggling using drones. A specialist sqaud will try to stop drugs and Mobile Phones being flown into prisoners cells