Croome Court to star in BBC Christmas special

Buy photos » Croome Court is to feature in the Countryfile Christmas Special on Sunday. (s)

MILLIONS of viewers will be able to learn more about Croome Court's multi-million pound restoration project when it stars in a popular TV show this weekend.

The historic mansion, situated near Pershore, will feature in Countryfile's Christmas Special which will be aired on BBC One on Sunday (December 23) at 5.30pm.

Presented by investigative reporter Tom Heap, the programme focuses on the decline of the mansion house and what the team at Croome are doing to help it being saved from ruin.

In recent weeks the Countryfile crew have been filming inside the historic setting and interviewed house and visitor services manager Amy Forster and Hilda Newman, who remembers Croome from when she worked as Lady Coventry's maid just before the Second World War.

Amy, who in the programme shows the serious water damage above the Long Gallery, said everyone at Croome was excited about its prime time slot.

"We are very excited to be appearing on the show and we're looking forward to the whole nation being able to see what the house is like under the floorboards and behind closed doors," she said.

"The programme has also given us a brief but fantastic opportunity to explain what we have planned for the house in the future."

Countryfile also filmed in the decaying Red Wing which is soon to be the focus of its own rescue and repair project.

Between Boxing Day and New Year, Croome Court will be open with guided tours taking place throughout. From January the house will be open six days a week between 12pm and 3pm and will be closed on Tuesdays.

For more information call Croome Court on 01905 371006 or visit the website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/croome.

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