Clipper Homecoming Festival

Claire McCollum and Gavin Andrews present coverage of the Clipper Homecoming Festival

They’re on the homeward leg of an epic round the world race and will receive a ‘Legenderry’ welcome back to Europe when they reach their next port of call.

To mark the stopover in Londonderry of the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race, BBC Northern Ireland will bring viewers a flavour of the celebrations taking place which are expected to attract thousands of families and sightseers to the city.

The homecoming celebration, one of the biggest events in preparation for Derry-Londonderry’s year as UK City of Culture in 2013, will see the city welcome the racing yachts to the Foyle including a very special boat bearing the city’s name.

Claire McCollum and Gavin Andrews will present the Clipper Homecoming Festival starting at 7.00pm on BBC One Northern Ireland on Friday, July 06. The one-hour programme will bring viewers across Northern Ireland the sights and sounds of the homecoming celebrations and a taste of the atmosphere on the day (Friday, July 06).

It will reflect on some of the highlights of the homecoming celebrations including the musical acts, a look at the heritage of the city and the Foyle and the family attractions.

Viewers will get to hear the first-hand experiences of some of the Clipper crews about what it was like to take part in the race that spans 40000miles of ocean setting sail from Southampton in July last year.

Presenter Claire McCollum said: "I'm delighted to be co-hosting BBC Northern Ireland's coverage of the Clipper Homecoming programme with Gavin. We will be capturing all the colour as these magnificent yachts and their crews take centre stage for a really colourful maritime festival on the Foyle. Among the highlights for me will be meeting some of the intrepid men and women who have swapped their everyday lives to sail around the world, finding out what it's like to live and work in such close quarters on board these vessels!"

The programme will also look at how ‘shipshape’ the city is in preparation for its big year as UK City of Culture in 2013.