A Northumberland museum is hoping for another 'uplift in interest' as it hosts one of the UK's longest-running TV shows tonight.
Antiques Roadshow returns to Woodhorn Museum for the second time this year after filming in August 2021, with the museum seeing a huge increase in hits on its website and social media after the first episode aired in February. Woodhorn, which tells the story of mining and North East miners' way of life, hosted Fiona Bruce and her team over two days on a closed set with around 300 people present, ready to offer up their heirlooms for inspection.
This time around, Fiona Bruce finds out how miner's lamps proved a vital piece of safety equipment while Mark Smith hears the moving story behind a George Cross medal awarded to a miner who helped rescue the victims of a pit disaster in 1947. Alexandra Aguilar admires a portrait of a woman in Japanese dress, while Raj Bisram sees more football memorabilia signed by local Ashington lads Jack and Bobby Charlton.
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In the previous episode, Raj had taken a closer look at a set of gold FA Cup medals won be Newcastle United legend Bobby Cowell. There are some quirky pieces of memorabilia too, including a car park sign that featured in 'Get Carter' and two tiny 'firing' glasses.
A spokesperson for Woodhorn Museum said: "The uplift in interest that we saw from the first episode was incredible. The website and social media went crackers so we're hoping for a similar level of interest, which is really positive."
Did you watch the first episode of the Antiques Roadshow filmed at Woodhorn Museum? Let us know in the comments below!
"It's an amazing opportunity. I think Antiques Roadshow gets seven million viewers so it's a real opportunity to raise the profile of the museum and share stories that people may not know about Northumberland, and South East Northumberland in particular. It's a really important platform for us.
"It was a lovely day too. The weather was perfect and there were some really interesting pieces that were brought along. Some were more valuable than others, and there were some lovely stories as well."
Speaking to the Chronicle earlier in the year, Rowan Brown, Chief Executive of Museums Northumberland, said: "As a life-long Antiques Roadshow fan, I’m delighted that Woodhorn Museum will be the series’ first coalmining location. The programme is renowned for its engaging and diverse storytelling, and Museums Northumberland aspires to do the same."
As well as Woodhorn Museum, other locations on the new series include Ham House in Richmond, London; The Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh; Aston Hall, Birmingham; Bishop's Palace in Wells, Somerset; Ulster Folk Museum near Belfast and Porchester Castle, Hampshire.
Antiques Roadshow airs at 8pm on BBC One on Sunday May 8. It will be available on iPlayer shortly afterwards.
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