Sir Jeremy Isaacs is to head a panel to judge whether Oxford will be named the European Capital of Culture for 2008.
The former chief executive of Channel 4 TV and general director of the Royal Opera House will chair the judges producing a shortlist from the 12 cities competing to win the UK's nomination. Prime Minister Tony Blair will select the winner, and that nomination is then expected to be formally accepted by the European Union.
The deputy chairmen of the judges will be broadcaster Sue MacGregor and Judith Mayhew, the chairman of the policy and resources committee of the Corporation of London.
The other 11 cities in the running are Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Canterbury and East Kent, Cardiff, Inverness and the Highlands, Liverpool, Newcastle/Gates- head and Norwich.
The last British city to hold the title was Glasgow, in 1990.
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