Radio 4 will make history in Bradford when Gardeners' Question Time is broadcast live for the first time.

The famous show, which has been going for 51 years, has always previously been pre-recorded.

But it will break with tradition when chairman Eric Robson and his team answer questions put by a specially invited audience at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford

The broadcast at 2.30pm on March 26 is part of a series of Radio 4 shows being beamed to the nation from the BBC's high-profile FutureWorld exhibition currently on show at the museum.

On the panel for the historic edition of Gardeners' Question Time are landscape designer and gardening author John Cushnie, landscape architect Bunny Guinness and gardening writer Nigel Colborn.

The programme's 'plant doctor' Pippa Greenwood is also on standby to take part from the maternity ward of her local hospital.

Producer Trevor Taylor said: "Pippa's baby is due on the same day as our live broadcast but, assuming the infant is a little late, and Pippa has promised it will be, we'll have access to Pippa's unparalleled knowledge of bugs and diseases thanks to a link to the hospital."

As with recorded editions of the programme, the team will not have prior knowledge of any of the questions, which will be submitted by members of the 300-strong audience and selected by the producer up to a few minutes before it goes live.

Broadcasts from Bradford were due to start today with the Daily Service, led by the Provost, the Very Reverend John Richardson, going out live from Bradford Cathedral.

Also due to be broadcast from Bradford today was the consumer programme You and Yours from FutureWorld.

Tonight, Bradford will play host to the Radio 4 show The Moral Maze, chaired by Michael Buerk.

Tomorrow, Jenni Murray will travel to Bradford to present Woman's Hour from 10am. Among her guests will be actress Brigit Forsyth, who played Francine Pratt in the BBC TV drama Playing the Field and will star in Single Spies at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds starting next month, and PC Anne Griffin, who will discuss Muslim policewomen.

Barnsley-born Jenni will also tackle the controversial subject of Yorkshire pudding.

And at 4.30pm on Friday, Alex Brodie will present a live edition of Radio 4's magazine The Message. Taking part will be author Phillip Knightley; Helen Scott, of Yorkshire Television; Guardian picture editor Eamonn McCabe and Richard Howells, communication studies lecturer at Leeds University.

The broadcast takes place in the Cubby Broccoli Cinema and members of the public are welcome to watch the programme go out live.

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