Birmingham has very close affiliations to the film maestro. All of his UK films, including many of his classics, were produced by Sir Michael Balcon, the Birmingham born film producer, who discovered Hitch’ and gave him his first writing and directing roles in the ‘twenties. And Hitch’s first ice cold blonde siren was in fact the Birmingham born actress Madeleine Carroll, who in 39 STEPS introduced that definitive caricature. Next time you visit The Public, you’ll see a statue in her honour in front of the building.