Redbourn has been shortlisted in a national competition to be crowned village of the year.

The ‘Village of the Year’ competition airs on Channel 4, and sees Penelope Keith travel around the UK with a team of three judges to find Britain’s best village. As well as the title, the winning village will receive £10,000.

Penelope’s team of judges includes archaeologist and village historian Alex Langlands, garden designer Juliet Sargeant and fashion designer and Great British Sewing Bee presenter Patrick Grant.

Together, they will explore villages and soak up local architecture, rural pastimes and forgotten traditions and skills, culminating in a grand finale revealing the overall winner.

While in Redbourn Juliet will break bread with the local miller. The episode also features the village of Findon, Rowhedge in Essex and Coxheath in Kent.

Redbourn parish councillor Ivan Hickmott, who put together the application for the show, said: “The TV company made two visits and met a number of people and saw some of our historical sites.

“I am delighted that they shortlisted us and said on the basis of their second visit that we’d have our 10 to 15 minutes of fame. We are absolutely thrilled.

“They met with me and had a trip to Redbournbury Mill and they met the local miller who talked them through the baking process, which was fantastic.

“In terms of marketing the village, which is something we are trying to give more attention to, this is ideal.”

During the show, the judges will meet “quirky characters” that make up British life, seeing everything from scarecrow championships to Second World War festivals, aiming to capture all that is great about rural communities.

The show airs every day on Channel 4 at 3pm, with a peak show every Saturday at 8pm. During the peak show, five villages from the week’s heats will go head to head for a spot in the grand final. The finale will air on Saturday, February 10 at 8pm.

The Redbourn episode will air at 3pm on Thursday, January 25.