A popular TV show will be filmed at Battersea Arts Centre, and the production company are calling for audience members.

Sky Arts' Portrait Artist of the Year will begin filming at its new home on April 2. Storyvault Film, who produce the show, are calling on art lovers to join them in the audience.

Artists, celebrities, judges, the production crew and co-presenters Joan Bakewell and Stephen Mangan will all be there.

Recording takes place in the Grand Hall, which recently underwent a multi-million-pound refurbishment following a fire in 2015.

Over the course of two weeks of filming, 24 celebrity sitters will have their likenesses captured by some 72 competing artists.

Each artist – some amateur and some professional - hopes to make it through to the final, where they’ll be competing for a prestigious £10,000 commission to paint a mystery celebrity.

Their eventual completed portrait will go on display at a national gallery or institution.

They will be judged by artist Tai Shan Schierenberg, independent curator Kathleen Soriano and art historian Kate Bryan.

The move to the Battersea Arts Centre offers a new opportunity for the team to involve local communities.

Says Sam Richards of Storyvault Films: “The whole ethos of Portrait Artist of the Year is to demystify the artistic process and to make it much more inclusive.

"That’s why we’re so excited about our new partnership with Battersea Arts Centre. It is not only a fabulous location that’s home to an eclectic mix of the arts, but also an integral – and much loved - part of the community.

“The Grand Hall, where our competing artists will paint the celebrity sitters is breath-taking – and much bigger than our previous home at The Wallace Collection. This means we’ll be able to welcome many more members of the public to our audience. We can’t wait to welcome you to the sixth series of the show.”

David Jubb, Artistic Director and CEO of Battersea Arts Centre adds: "We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Storyvault Films and Portrait Artist of the Year to our renewed Grand Hall. Battersea Arts Centre has previously been home to visual artists like Grayson Perry and Mona Hatoum, so we are very excited to welcome a promising new generation of portrait artists to the building.

"It is especially exciting that filming will take place during our Occupy Festival, which is programmed by the exceptional Artistic Director (Up Next) Saad Eddine Said.

"The festival gives a platform to underrepresented communities, collectives, entrepreneurs, young artists and activists who will occupy all corners of Battersea Arts Centre.”

The fifth series of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 is about to air on Sky Arts (February 12th, 8.00 pm) available On Demand and NOW TV.

The 10-week series will see a several celebrity names from the world of film, television, sport and music including Anne Reid, Geraldine James, James Purefoy, Anne Chancellor, Beverley Knight, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Gina McKee, Eddie Hill and David Gandy.

The eight winners from each heat went on to paint British Jazz legend Courtney Pine MBE in the semi-final, while the three artists through to the final were challenged to portray Hollywood actress and singer Laura Linney at the National Portrait Gallery.

The overall winner was commissioned to paint the portrait of Sir Tom Jones, which will hang in the permanent collection at The National Museum of Wales.