THE Great Yorkshire Show is set to reach its biggest audience ever thanks to a two part series being filmed for national television with presenter Anita Rani.

Over 130,000 people are expected to attend the show which is now widely regarded as the leading agricultural event in England playing host to over 8,500 animals on the Harrogate showground. The doors open for the 161st show on July 9 for three days with the Duke of York visiting on July 11.

The two part series is being made by Daisybeck Studios from Leeds who also make The Yorkshire Vet and Springtime on the Farm. Alongside Anita Rani will be Julian Norton and Peter Wright from the vet series.

Filming with members and exhibitors started a few weeks ago to record the build up. Show Director Charles Mills said: "We are absolutely delighted that Daisybeck are filming with us, taking the Great Yorkshire Show into the living rooms of people right across the UK.

"This is not only tremendous publicity but will also give an insight into the organisation that goes into delivering such a large-scale event as well as the wonderful people involved in making it the iconic show it is today."

Paul Stead, Managing Director of Daisybeck said they'd been working with show organisers for three years and Channel 5 had now commissioned the programme which they're hoping could become an annual event.

"We’re biased of course but having filmed previously for the Vet programmes we’re thrilled at the chance to capture a much broader array of competitors and contributors. We aim to cover the best of the best across livestock produce, crafts and country pursuits, everything on show across the ground.

"It’s about the people and their passions. It’s a real opportunity to show the rest of the country why this show is simply so fabulous. We hope the audience come to it and our greatest wish is that this could become an annual fixture in the TV schedules in the same way that the Chelsea Flower show is."