BRADFORD’S magnificent City Hall is being presented to the nation in a new BBC 2 series on historic buildings.

The three-week series The Hairy Builder airs from tonight at 6.30pm.

Better known as one half of peripatetic biking chefs The Hairy Bikers, Dave Myers has rolled up his sleeves and become an apprentice builder as he investigates the historical past, secrets and dramas of listed buildings, cathedrals and stately homes from Devon to Sunderland.

The history of City Hall is expected to be shown in episode six, which airs on Monday, July 18.

Dave said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me to learn some new hands-on skills and unravel the mysteries of some of the greatest buildings in the country’s heritage. I am very excited and proud to be part of it.”

He will also investigate the myriad of stories connected to the building, the landscape and local geography and the people who built, lived and worked there.

The conservation projects will all be at different stages of work, but whatever the stage, he will learn skills with the builders on site and consult with local experts to expose secret stories that even the professional tour guides do not know about.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s executive member for environment, sport and culture, said: “There are some amazing buildings in our district. We are incredibly proud of City Hall, so when we were asked if it could be featured in this series we jumped at the chance.

“We are looking forward to seeing City Hall on television and being able to share some aspects of this great building with viewers from across the district and further afield.”

The building was commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1870 as a town hall and took three years to build, at a cost of £100,000, by Shipley builder John Ives and Son. By 1909 it had been extended twice and is currently undergoing a £4m restoration which began in 2013. The masons, employed by York-based firm William Anelay, have replaced damaged stonework and creating new carvings where the originals have been lost.

The series will see the chef-cum-apprentice-builder visiting four other Yorkshire buildings – Doncaster Mansion House, Wakefield Cathedral, Pontefract Castle and Ampleforth College.