TV SHOW

Dig out your Star Wars figures, limited edition Barbies and Steiff Bears - the Antiques Roadshow is coming to town. Aimed at collectors and antique enthusiasts under 18, the Next Generation show is a special junior version of the popular BBC programme. Setting up shop in Edinburgh’s Royal Museum, host Michael Aspel and a team of 20 experts will be sorting the priceless wheat from the worthless chaff.

Finding a camera-friendly child is often tricky, as Roadshow regular, Bunny Campione explains. ‘It can be difficult to find a child who has a genuine interest and a collection that they’ve owned for more than one night,’ she says. ‘Because often the parents are so keen to get their children on television that they give them their collection. But then the child is too shy to talk about it, and that doesn’t make for very good filming. So when we do find a child who speaks eruditely, and really knows their stuff, it’s a real bonus.’

Over the years, Campione has met children with collections of evening bags, corks (even though the nipper was too young to drink) and an array of buttons so impressive there’s talk of turning it into a museum. Of course not everyone turning up on the day will have a fully fledged collection or family heirloom to display. The experts are just as keen to meet those finding their feet in the collection business.

‘We really do want to bring young people into this show - it shouldn’t just be for the over 40s to look at,’ says Campione. ‘So even if the child brings just one thing that they’re keen on, to get some advice on how to build a collection and what to look out for, that’s absolutely fine.’