A MANNINGTREE antiques shop is set to appear in an episode of a long-running BBC programme.
Manningtree Emporium owner Ken Hewitt welcomed in camera crews to the site in Jubilee End earlier this year.
It is featured in the latest episode of Antiques Road Trip which aired on Friday.
This is not Ken's first time filming for Antiques Road Trip, with previous appearances including three episodes at his previous antiques shop in Halstead.
In the episode, which was filmed in May, antiques experts Philip Serrell and Catherine Southon paid a visit to the shop.
As part of the format of the programme, the two were competing against each other to find items to put up for auction.
Ken said the shop’s business day continued as normal, despite the presence of the film crew.
He added: “When they came in May, we were open and members of the public were in there.”
According to Ken, the BBC Antiques Road Trip crew have made return visits to Manningtree Emporium due to its size and expanse, which can accommodate all required parties.
He said: “They never ask us to close as they know there’s enough space for us, them and normal customers.”
As part of the episode, scenes were also filmed of the antiques experts trying to find a bargain.
Ken said: “They’re there for three to four hours in total. They arrive and wander around for up to an hour themselves looking at everything that might interest them.
“They select a few items they might be interested in, have a haggle with us on the prices and buy the bits they want to buy.
"It’s a good fun day for us. Good in terms of marketing and to have something different going on.
"Even all our customers were quite thrilled about it, the mechanics of TV cameras, the lighting. Great for us and great for our customers to see.”
Ken has been in the Manningtree Emporium for more than five years and remembers filming for Antiques Road Trip in his former Halstead business.
This includes a celebrity edition of the show, where Philip Serrell and late Only Fools and Horses star John Challis, who played Boycie, stopped by.
Ken said: “After filming had finished, Philip and John came back and bought items for themselves.”
The episode of BBC’s Antiques Road Trip featuring Manningtree Emporium will be available on iPlayer.
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