PARTS of County Durham and the wider North East were featured in a popular BBC show on Monday evening – as towns, castles, landscapes and shops of the region all got a taste of the spotlight.

Viewers who tuned in to BBC One at 7pm might have witnessed some familiar surroundings after large parts of Celebrity Antiques Road Show shone a light on the well-known and the more obscure parts of the county.

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Within the show, two Northern entertainers went head-to-head in an attempt to turn the biggest profit – as actor and comedian Crissy Rock came up against personality and presenter, Scarlett Moffatt.

The two celebs navigated their way across the B-roads of the North East in vintage cars, taking in antique shops with the help of experts Margie Cooper and Christina Trevanion with a budget of £400 to spend.

During the programme, Scarlett, who is originally from Bishop Auckland, was sent to Stanley in County Durham, before travelling on to Newcastle Upon Tyne and South Shields.

Darlington and Stockton Times: The two celebrities travelled to Stanley, Beamish, Newcastle Upon Tyne and Brancepeth Castle.The two celebrities travelled to Stanley, Beamish, Newcastle Upon Tyne and Brancepeth Castle.

On her travels, she got the chance to tell watchers about her spending patterns, saying: “I once bought one size four trainer and one size five for £12 – I love a bargain,” while learning about a Roman fort nestled in the middle of a South Shields housing estate later in the show.

Meanwhile, Crissy had a similar history lesson – visiting Horsley, Whitley Bay, Boldon Colliery and getting an opportunity to go to Beamish; the Living Museum of the North. 

Darlington and Stockton Times: Crissy travels to Beamish to find out about sweet manufacturing. Crissy travels to Beamish to find out about sweet manufacturing.

While at the Museum, Crissy found out about the antique shops in Beamish and learnt about the manufacture of sweets.

By the end of the show, Scarlett and Crissy came face to face for a final auction at Brancepeth Castle near Durham and a chance to see how well their antiques would sell.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Scarlett visits Stanley, South Shields and Newcastle Upon Tyne.Scarlett visits Stanley, South Shields and Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Crissy’s finds fared better, as she made a £41 profit on a Clarice Cliff plate and some sugar nips, while Scarlett ended the programme with losses of £48 after bad investments on a brooch, a Newcastle-inspired plate, and several other items.