Antiques show’s road reaches Yorkshire resort

The Antiques Roadshow attracted thousands of people with family heirlooms in hand hoping to get expert advice on their hidden household treasures.

The BBC was recording for the programme’s 35th series.

Some of the UK’s leading antiques and fine arts specialists were on hand to offer free information and valuations to the visitors who had raided their attics and car boot bargains for inspection.

One employee at the Spa said the hall had been “really, really busy” since the beginning of the day, with people queuing out of the door and on to the street to get in.

Visitors were allowed in until 7pm but anyone wanting a valuation was advised to come before 4.30pm.

Series editor Simon Shaw said that recordings regularly attract between 1,500 and 2,000 visitors.

Before the event he said: “The team are all looking forward to visiting Scarborough. It’s always exciting to see what will come to light on the day.

“Despite the high turnout everyone will get to see an expert.”

The filming of the show in Scarborough came as the BBC announced a plan to launch a “guess the value” game which will allow audiences to play along with the programme on computers, mobile phone sor iPads.

There will be an expert or amateur level and those playing will have to choose from four value ranges for each antique item featured. Audiences make their valuations against the clock, before the answers are revealed on the television.

An “Ask the Nation” function will also allow people to find out how they ranked against others playing the game during that episode.