Two men involved in film at the National Media Museum are appearing in a multi-million pound feature film themselves.

Actor Ben Eagle, a film festival producer, and Tony Earnshaw, artistic director of the Bradford International Film Festival, have been chosen as extras for The King’s Speech.

The film, directed by Tom Hooper, who was also behind the camera for The Damned United, about the late Brian Clough’s career at Leeds United, stars Sir Derek Jacobi, Timothy Spall, Helena Bonham Carter, Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush.

Ben, who will be appearing as a background artist, said: “Filming is at Odsal Stadium, which is doubling as the old Wembley Stadium. Colin Firth, playing King George VI, gives a speech in which he loses his stammer.

“I had my costume fitting. I was fitted out with a 1930s overcoat and trilby, and had a ridiculously short-back-and-sides haircut – all in the name of art, darling!

“It’s fantastic to know that Bradford is being used as a film location for such a large project.

‘‘Bradford has such a great film heritage, and being the world’s first UNESCO City of Film makes the week ahead very important for me personally and the city.” Mr Earnshaw will be playing a soldier, marching into the stadium. He used to be a cadet soldier at school and so knows about marching and rifles.

Filming in Bradford for The King’s Speech is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday of next week.

Hundreds of local people will be among the crowd as extras, earning £70 a day with three meals thrown in.

Mr Eagle, also a member of Bradford’s Paper Zoo Theatre Company, added: “Next year I’ll be making my 50th stage appearance, as the Beast in Beauty and the Beast at Halifax’s Victoria Theatre, but this marks only my third outing on screen. I’m looking forward to it.”