A celebrity bargain hunter trawled searched a Basingstoke shop in a hunt for hidden treasures.
TV’s Paul Laidlaw, from BBC 2’s Antiques Roadtrip, visited Squirrels collectors shop on New Street on Friday during filming for a new series.
And the presenter bagged a £200, Glasgow-made grandfather clock dating from the 1830s.
The show pits Paul against fellow collector Thomas Plant as they tour small stores across the country in a vintage Alfa Romeo.
They then go head-to-head at auction to see who makes the most cash.
The show is due to air in September, and all profits will go to the broadcaster’s annual Children In Need appeal.
Paul told the Observer: “My first impression when looking at the shop was that it is an absolute Aladdin’s Cave.
“I got the clock at incredible value and I would be disappointed not to make a little bit on it at auction.
“Being a Scot myself, the clock was for me a sentimental and nostalgic purchase but worth every penny.
“But I have had more fun in this shop than any other one so far on the tour.”
The family-owned store is run by Alan Stone, who said this was his first time in front of the TV cameras.
And despite 30 years in the business, he admitted that Paul drove a hard bargain.
“It has been a bit of a novelty really,” the shopkeeper said. “I think these sort of shows are good for people interested in collecting.
“In this trade it is important to know that the real money is made in buying the goods and offering it to the right people.”
And Paul, who runs an auction house in Carlisle, said doing his job in front of the cameras keeps him on his toes.
“It is great fun to do, but at the end of the day it is serious business.
“It is not that great if you get it wrong in front of four million viewers - there’s a wee bit of pressure to it.”
