Justin Lee Collins: Bring the 2018 World Cup to Bristol

Comedian Justin Lee Collins does not want to bring back the World Cup in 2018 – because it has never been to Bristol before.

The 35-year-old Bristolian, who still lives in the city, has entertained the nation on The Friday Night Project, The Justin Lee Collins show and with his Bring Back... series, in which he sought to reunite the casts of The A-Team and Star Wars among others.

But Bristol and the South West was a notable absentee from the list of venues in 1966, when England last staged the World Cup tournament – something Collins hopes will be rectified this time round.

He said: "Bring the World Cup to Bristol. That's what I'm talking about. I'm not going to say 'bring it home' as it's never been here. It's the big show. It doesn't get much bigger. And Bristol should be a part of it."

Excellent transport links, a new stadium and iconic landmarks are just some of the reasons Bristol should be a 2018 World Cup venue, and then there is also the accent.

Collins was back in action yesterday to support the bid as decision time neared, extolling the virtues of his native Bristol's rolling accent in the process.

"We should be proud of it," he told the Evening Post, while promoting the campaign to get Bristolians texting their support for the bid by sending BRISTOL to 62018.

"It's still got that stigma attached to it but it's a great accent. There are people out there who still think we all live on a mass farm.

"I met Timmy Mallett the other day and he started singing a song about tractors. He was just being funny, of course, but I've never lived on a farm in my life!

"We live in a beautiful city. Lots of people know that but lots of people don't, so it would be great to promote our city to a bigger audience.

"People also don't realise this is a multi-cultural place to live."

Bristol is one of 16 cities applying for one of 12 places in England's campaign to stage the World Cup in 2018 or 2022.

The bid team must submit its bid book to Wembley on Monday, November 9, before a final publicity push leading up to the big decision in December.

● Tomorrow is the closing date for our competition to win a trip to Wembley to help file the Bristol bid and see your design turned into a 2018 World Cup football.