Young people in Bradford will be telling Britain why they are proud of their district when they are filmed for a national television programme next week.

A BBC TV crew will be in Bradford from today, filming youngsters visiting attractions in the city such as the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television.

There will be a live broadcast from the city centre, featuring Bradford Bulls players, and the cameras will be at Gareth Gates's former school filming a hairdressing competition judged by his mother and sister.

Bradford's Capital of Culture bid director Paul Brookes said the programme would boost the bid by showing the district's attractions to viewers across the country.

The filming, for BBC youth television programme Xchange, began today when presenter Joe Challands broadcast live from Centenary Square at 7.30am.

He was asking young people what makes them proud of their home town and why it should be European Capital of Culture 2008.

Town crier Victor Watson, was due to join the youngsters and talk about his duties in the Bradford area.

A live afternoon broadcast this afternoon was to film at the Aakash in Cleckheaton - one of Britain's biggest curry houses - where Joe was to be taught how to make a curry

Dancers from Bradford-based South Asian dance group Kala Sangam were giving a dance demonstration.

On Wednesday the film crew will return to Centenary Square to meet Bradford Bulls stars Robbie Paul, Stuart Fielden and Brian McDermot who will demonstrate some of their rugby skills.

Later that day the programme will be broadcast from Gareth Gates's former school, Dixons City Technology College, where pupils will take inspiration from the Number One pop sensation's famous hairstyle to compete in a hairdressing competition - judged by Gareth's mum, Wendy, and his sister.

A BBC spokeswoman said Bradford had been chosen for Xchange largely because of Gareth Gates. "It's a youth magazine programme that goes out twice a day. It's aimed at encouraging young people to be creative and active," she said.

Paul Brookes said the programme "is proof that people are interested in Bradford."

"It is an excellent chance to show young people all over the country some of the district's many jewels," he added.