Exclusive: Porn star in Hull’s City of Culture bid

Poppy Morgan, who has made nearly 150 adult films, featured in an official brochure given to judges when Hull was named UK City of Culture for 2017, the Yorkshire Post can reveal.

The Hull-born actress was named alongside such acting luminaries as Sir Tom Courtenay and Maureen Lipman in a section on film and television in the guide that formed part of the official bid document.

Some 10,000 copies have been distributed in public buildings including museums, libraries, and family visitor centre The Deep.

The Bondholders marketing organisation, which jointly produced it, called Ms Morgan an “acclaimed actress” when asked to comment.

The guide was jointly produced and distributed by the Bondholders and the city council at a cost of £7,000.

Piles of the brochures were available at The Deep aquarium yesterday as a party of schoolchildren were being admitted.

The Deep declined to comment, or say whether it would be withdrawing them.

But the Bondholders have defended the guide.

Marketing manager Nicola Baker said: “The Culture Guide has proven to be enormously popular with cultural organisations and the public.

“It has also been an excellent form of promotion of the Hull City of Culture bid and was used extensively as a backdrop on the day when Hull was announced as the winner, being featured on national and international media reports.

“A large number of groups and individuals contributed suggestions of people, places and events for inclusion.

“Poppy Morgan is an acclaimed actress – albeit in the adult film industry. She won Best Female Actress of the Year at the 2006 UK Adult Film and Television Awards in London.”

She added: “This guide is clearly not about condoning porn but it is about celebrating Hull’s diversity of culture and entertainment.”