We read that the Antiques Road Show was filming in Blackpool Tower Ballroom today and decided to take a look. After a sunny week it was misty on the front with a cool breeze at 9am. We arrived just after it opened and were allowed free into the tower, a place I’d not visited for over 40yrs. The entrance didn’t look up to much but inside it is quite a building and the queue was already long, snaking through the aquarium and a dinosaur land.
We eventually got to the ornate ballroom which was full of more snaking queues, bright lights, camera’s and the familiar faces of the experts and Fiona Bruce. So first stop a reception stand to be given tickets to two tables; collectables and ceramics. My wife having found 2 items that pass as possibly worth asking about.
Once inside the ballroom the interest begins watching the ‘form’ and listening to what experts are saying as you pass as part of the queue. The camera crews carefully manage their shots by asking the queues to snake a bit closer to fill spaces and hide things and not move too fast. On the TV it comes over as spontaneous but each slot takes about 20 minutes and one man who wanted to leave was told to get back or he’d spoil continuity. The whole thing does have the geniality and general pleasantness of the TV show, the experts and Fiona are friendly and genuine and it’s a great experience.
My wifes broach that she literally found a few years ago and got restored wasn’t worth much but it was said to be 120yrs old. Eric Knowles looked at the childs cup that came from my own family and said it was 1830, much to my surprise although not worth much. All the experts were very approachable and gave information without hurry despite the length of the queues. There are some members of the public who seemed to be following the cameras, some who came to take photos. Some had large artworks and there were large items of furniture being brought out filmed and taken back. Fiona had brought her children. Pride of place on stage was the Wurlitzer and there was a large silver model of the tower. A good day out.