Whoever decided to hold Bradford’s City of Culture launch outdoors in January, after dark and in subzero temperatures, was either a born optimist or someone deeply in touch with the Bradfordian psyche.

Despite freezing temperatures, the launch of Bradford City of Culture 2025 warmed the heart. From spectacular speeches high up on scaffolding by spoken word poet Kirsty Taylor to a marvellous magic show by Steven Frayne, formerly Dynamo.

The TV magician told the crowd how he started his career doing street magic exactly where they were all standing