"I am a terrible person - I am really sorry," said Paddy Breathnach.

This is the director's apology for not filming any of 'Blow Dry' in Keighley even though it is about the town.

The Irish director was in Keighley's Korner Bar with actor Bill Nighy for TV and press interviews three hours before the film's grand opening at the Picture House.

"When I came into Keighley today," he added, "I thought 'why didn't I film it here?' But I saw a couple of areas in Dewsbury and Batley I liked. It's mainly the exteriors we ended up shooting. Batley kind of worked for us."

Paddy explained he had been looking for more "graphic buildings."

But the decision to hold the premiere in Keighley came from a desire to escape the usual London affair.

He said: "I was very happy when I was up here before. Irish people have an affinity with the north of England.

"The edges always club together against the centre.

"People are very warm but not demonstrative of that warmth. With the Irish we talk too much and are too demonstrative."

Paddy, though, has no immediate plans to make another film in the north, and despite immersing himself in the business has learnt very little about hairdressing.

"My hairdressing is like my cooking, where you don't follow the recipe," he said.

But actor Bill Nighy, along with other cast members, had to have extensive hairdressing training from international hairdressing company Redken's London college.

College head Joan Newton said: "I'm very proud of them. It was really good fun teaching them.

"They had to practice on dummies and nearly had a fit when they had to do it for real."

Hairdressers usually train for two to three years. The 'Blow Dry' cast had just a few months.

The film's villainous clipper Ray Roberts is played by Bill Nighy, who accompanied Paddy to the premiere.

He said: "This is the first time I've been to Keighley. I've made two films in Yorkshire - 'Fairytale: A True Story' and 'Blow Dry' - and both times I've had a wonderful time.

"You have proper food in Yorkshire - proper pies.

"And it's really good to have the premiere here."

Bill claims to have fallen for the county ever since his first visit two or three years ago.

"It suits me because I come from a small town and it makes me miss it when I come somewhere like here," he added.

He is currently appearing at the West End's Duchess Theatre in 'Blue/Orange.'

His next film 'Lucky Break', directed by 'Full Monty' director Peter Cattaner, also starring Timothy Spall and Christopher Plummer, is out soon.