SIR Paul McCartney will be making a surprise appearance at tonight’s MTV European Music Awards, it has been announced.

He is to be awarded with a brand new, one-off accolade at the star-studded event at the Echo Arena Liverpool when he is named “ultimate legend”. And it is promised he will receive the gong from another “music icon”, whose identity is being kept secret ahead of the show.

The announcement was made by the president of MTV’s Inter-national Networks, Bill Roedy , at a press conference held yesterday.

He said the awards show had the potential to reach “hundreds of millions of viewers” – the larg- est audience in the EMA’s history.

“We really couldn’t come to Liverpool without doing this. We have never given this award in our entire 15-year history,” he said of the Ultimate Legend honour.

“We couldn’t think of a better representative of the music of Liverpool than Sir Paul. He has had such an influence on music from day one. It means a lot to us that he will be part of the show.”

Mr Roedy said holding the EMAs in Liverpool was a special honour because he believes MTV and Liverpool to be “kindred spirits”.

He said: “Liverpool is a great, great international city with values we aspire to and hold dear as well. It has an incredible music heritage with an influence throughout the world.

“I’m very glad to be here and it’s really good to see there really is a ferry ‘cross the Mersey’.

“Thank you LiverpWe will celebrate the music and live the dream – the Liverpool dream.”

Council leader Cllr Warren Bradley said: “The MTV awards could be the most talked about event in our Capital of Culture year and we are very proud to host them.” Show host Katy Perry and celebrity gossip columnist Perez Hilton also put in an appearance for the world’s press at the conference, held in the concert room of St George’s Hall.

It was also announced that Liverpool band The Wombats had been added to the bill of the illustrious awards show.

Perry, the 23-year-old I Kissed a Girl singer who claimed she had never seen the EMAs before being asked to host them, said: “It’s exciting because sometimes you get to awards shows and you’re put to sleep, honestly.

“I’ve heard about how the EMAs go all-out and from the list of play-ers and performers, it’s going to be a great show.”

She had been spotted enjoying herself in city centre gay bar Pink on Tuesday night.

“I like being here in Liverpool,” she said.” The people are very real, people come and talk to you, it’s a little bit more homey. Hilton, who will be hosting a live webcast from the EMAs and refers to himself as “the queen of all media”, made onstage swipes at Kerry Katona, Katie Price and Coleen McLoughlin and predicted a night of “divas, ladies, girls and women trying to outdo each other.”

MEANWHILE, Wirral’s exclusive Hillbark Hotel, in Royden Park, Frankby, was last night booked out amid rumours that one of MTV’s stars was staying there with their extended entourage.

FOR your complete guide to the MTV awards, see today’s Style City.

vickyanderson