Local actors join Emmerdale stars for radio play
BBCTwo young Bradford actors have joined the stars of Emmerdale for a radio play to celebrate the city's year as UK City of Culture.
The play, commissioned by BBC Radio Leeds, will tell the story of two best friends going on a voyage to discover why their city has been awarded the title.
Armaan Ali and Solomon Gordon have been recruited as protagonists Bilal and Ted and will appear alongside soap actors Mark Charnock and Dominic Brunt.
Playwright Nick Ahad said casting local actors ensured the city's grassroots creative talent was at the heart of the production.
The play will see the pair come across a statue of playwright JB Priestley and on touching it they will be catapulted through time and space.
They will end up in 19th Century Haworth and team up with Emily Brontë who will guide them on their journey through Bradford's cultural highlights.
Nick Ahad said: "Bilal and Ted's Bradfordian Adventure is my love letter to the place that made me the writer I am today, but also a way to prove to us Bradfordians and to everyone else that we absolutely are the cultural powerhouse some of us know we are."
Mr Gordon said he was proud to be part of a project championing his city.
"I'm really blessed to be a part of it.
"Bradford can do it and people in Bradford can absolutely go further," he said.
Mr Ali said working with well-known professional actors was "so scary at first."
Mr Gordon said "just learning from them was a gift".
"What's special about Bradford is the people," Mr Ali said.
"Honestly, the people are just the loveliest, the kindest people you'll ever meet. And the community is just wonderful."
The play will be broadcast on BBC Radio Leeds on Thursday 2 January at 09:00 GMT and on Tuesday 7 January at 13:00 GMT. It will then be available on BBC Sounds.
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