22-04-2025
United States of Birmingham airs tonight as Joe Lycett says 'let's celebrate what joins us'
Joe Lycett's new TV show United States of Birmingham is due to air tonight.
The proud Brummie wants people to "celebrate what joins us" after visiting scores of other places named Birmingham in America.
There are 18 other Birminghams - 17 in the US and one in Canada. And dad-of-one Joe has been to a number of them to gather a 'Treaty of Friendship' between the Birmingham's.
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He also believes there are a number of similarities between the UK city and Birmingham, Alabama.
Ahead of the show, Joe said: "It's to celebrate not only Birmingham, UK, but all the Birmingham's around the world.
"I'd only heard of Birmingham, Alabama, but actually, there are 18 other Birminghams.
"(There's) 17 in the US, one in Canada, and I've been to most of them.
Brummie icon @joelycett launches his new show, The United States of Birmingham caught up with Joe during filming to find out the first episode at 9pm on @skytv Max!
— Bham City Council (@BhamCityCouncil) April 22, 2025
"I've been there to get a 'Treaty of Friendship' signed between our Birmingham, their Birmingham, and all the other Birminghams, creating what we're calling the 'United States of Birmingham.'
"The reason I loved it is that I know there's a Birmingham spirit, which is very sort of like we're not noisy.
"I know I'm dressed like this, but we're not loud people generally. We're quite sort of humble.
"We know we've got a great city, but we're not shouting about it loads and I do like that spirit.
"But sometimes I feel like I want people to come here and see how brilliant it is and actually that spirit is shared by most of the Birminghams, particularly Birmingham, Alabama.
"When we were there, I was sort of amazed at what they were telling me because it was so similar to Birmingham, UK.
"They said that 'we know we're a great city but everyone thinks we're not that great, but we know we're brilliant.'
"There are loads of great restaurants, there are loads of brilliant culture, brilliant artists, a brilliant music scene here, there's a great comedy club.
"They said they have a great airport, which is really easy to get access to - it's only 15 minutes down the road.
"And I was thinking - that sounds like Birmingham, UK, to me. And so we've got a lot that joins us and I think it's important to celebrate that." The first episode in on Sky Max at 9pm tonight, Tuesday, April 22.
