Grassington could star in a TV competition in which the winner will be given a house there.

The village is one of three potential locations picked by a company making the programme for Channel 4.

Researchers for Studio Lambert have been in the village interviewing locals and selling the idea, in which contestants will move in and become part of community life.

They could tackle a number of jobs over several weeks to assess their value to the village, highlighting their skills, civic values and neighbourliness, with a panel of local judges deciding who should be voted off each week.

Six weeks of filming is due to begin in August, during which eight one-hour episodes will be made and screened next year. The show doesn’t yet have a title.

Studio Lambert creative director Jamie Isaacs said: “We want to assure people that it is not ‘reality’ TV. It is a documentary which highlights village life, a place’s sense of community, and also gives someone the chance to live there who could not normally afford it.

“The high cost of housing is a national problem, not just in Grassington, and the person who wins the house – yet to be bought – will be the one who most deserves it. It could even be a local person. We have not ruled out local people taking part.”

Contestants must be committed to living in the village, rather than using the house as a second home or selling it for quick profit.

Mr Isaacs said he would be willing to speak to a village public meeting.

“Village life will continue as normal. People will not be aware filming is going on. There won’t be a studio set, big vans and lights,” he said. “We also hope to be able to reward the village. Our presence will help the local economy. We will be spending locally.”

He said the film-makers might also invest in Grassington’s new Village Hub project. Grassington district councillor Coun Richard Foster said: “If Grassington is chosen, the winner will get a £300,000 house which could cause resentment in the village, particularly as a lot of local people can’t afford them. But it would be no different to someone winning the lottery and buying a house here.

“I hope the programme does highlight the difficulties rural living creates, but we won’t know until it’s produced and aired.”

Michael Rooze, chairman of Grassington Parish Council, said there were a lot of unanswered questions which he hoped to be able to discuss with the producers, hopefully at a public meeting.