The BBC One political programme will break away from its traditional formula of a mixed audience representing a cross-section of society when it is filmed live in Dewsbury on Thursday.

The all-female audience to mark International Women's Week will be the first in the programme's 30-year history.

It follows a special edition on Wednesday with an audience of first time voters. Among the women getting ready to grill the panel is 39-year-old Karen Rowling from Mirfield.

"I'm excited about it and trying to keep and eye on the news," she said. "I'd like the opportunity to be able to speak if I could.

"It's a programme that's on every week so for one week to do something different, it's an interesting idea."

Fellow audience member Joanne Jackson, 38, of Thornhill, said: "This is a celebration for women who for years have been oppressed and still are being, even in this country. I thinks it's excellent to acknowledge that. I'm all for it."

But the decision has disappointed men who had hoped to take part.

Coun Masood Ahmed (Dews South, Lab), who has been in the audience before, said he had no problem with the idea but could understand their frustration.

He said: "For me, with it being in Dewsbury, my home town, it would be nice to be in the audience and put questions.

"I've had a lot of people ringing asking how they can get on and I've broken a lot of men's hearts!"

See today's Reporter for the full story.