STRICTLY star Janette Manrara visited the district this week to film a TV appearance of a more unexpected nature.
The professional dancer, who has spent many Saturday nights entertaining the nation on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, was at Sims Antiques near Henley, to film for Celebrity Antiques Road Trip.
The BBC programme sees experts accompany celebrities on a road trip around the UK searching for treasures and competing to make the most money at auction.
And business owners Phil and Terri Sims – pros in their own right at appearing on the antiques programme – were on hand to welcome her to their antiques centre based at Yew Tree Shopping Village in Wootton Wawen.
Also accompanying her was one of the show’s antiques experts, David Harper.
Whilst Sims Antiques couldn’t offer her any glitter balls to take away to sell at auction, there were certainly a plethora of other antiques for Janette to choose from. What she did select and whether she ends up winning the show will be revealed when the episode is broadcast later this year.
Janette was pitted against her husband and fellow Strictly professional Aljaz Skorjanec who went off to film at a different location.
In a teaser for the show, she put up a photo on her Instagram of her sitting with Aljaz in a vintage car that included in the caption: “filming something really fun”.
And it looks like Janette managed to fit in a spot of sightseeing whilst she was in the area.
On another photo posted later in the day, of her relaxing with friends at The Boat House, she wrote: “Beautiful day out in Stratford-Upon-Avon enjoying this beautiful weather”.
Meanwhile, couple of a more entrepreneurial nature, Phil and Terri, have notched up many TV appearances of their own since setting up their antiques business in 2013. Phil estimates they are now well into double figures.
He told the Observer: “We’ve appeared on various antiques TV shows now and we’re well into double figures. We’ve appeared on BBCs Antiques Road Trip, Channel 4’s Posh Pawn Brokers and even How to Get Rich Quick on Channel 5.”
Phil said it had been a great day filming another TV episode of Celebrity Antiques Road Trip and it was lovely to meet and chat with Janette and David.
The antiques dealer added that he thought the reason TV crews kept coming back was down to a combination of factors.
“We do a lot of advertising and have a very good reputation in the Midlands antique trade and even nationally. While our centre isn’t the largest around we do pack a lot of varied and interesting stock into it, while always ensuring everything is clearly labelled, clean and tidy. We’re professional and offer great customer service.
“That’s the feedback we always get from customers and even the TV celebrities and antique experts.
“Also after appearing on so many shows we also know what to expect and how to deal with the filming environment. That makes it a lot more straightforward for everyone”.
