Bantam of the Opera choir to sing on SPOTY

The choir will perform during the section of SPOTY honouring stars who have died in the last year

Fifty Bradford City fans will perform at BBC Sports Personality of the Year by singing the football club's anthem, Midland Road.

The BBC's Bantam of the Opera choir will sing during the section of the show honouring sporting stars who have died in the last year.

The group, which was formed by BBC Radio Leeds to mark Bradford's year as UK City of Culture, is made up of fans of all ages.

Choral leader James Sills said the choir had brought people together across the city.

He said: "Since the beginning of the year, Bantam of the Opera have been on an incredible journey - from performing on the pitch at Valley Parade, to singing for the King."

BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 18 December.

The choir will also be the focus of a one-off film broadcast in the run up to Christmas on BBC One titled Sing When You're Winning.

The 30-minute programme, presented by Bradford-born popstar Kimberley Walsh, will plot the choir's journey over the past year.

Sills added: "Our documentary Sing When You're Winning isn't just a story about a choir - it's about what happens when 50 strangers become a family. It's about the incredible power of human connection, community and belonging."

Ambassadors for the choir include Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, opera singer Lesley Garrett, and sports commentator and TV presenter Chris Kamara.

In May the choir performed on the pitch at Valley Parade for the club's annual memorial match in tribute to the 56 football fans who lost their lives in the stadium fire 40 years ago.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.