Antiques Roadshow comes to Portsmouth for D-Day special

It'll see people sharing stories of items linked to the landings in June 1944

Author: Ryan BurrowsPublished 30th May 2024

A special edition of Antiques Roadshow is being hosted in Portsmouth to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

The show is being filmed at both the D-Day Story Museum in Southsea and in Normandy.

It will feature a range of objects with stories relating back to the landings of June 1944, along with first-hand testimony from those who took part including veteran Ken Cooke.

Roadshow experts explore items from the museum's collection which feature throughout the episode alongside those brought in by visitors.

Amongst them includes LCT 7074, the last surviving Landing Craft Tank from D-Day and the 83 metre Overlord Embroidery, created to commemorate those who took part in the Normandy campaign.

Other items to feature from the museum's collection include Monty's beret worn by General Bernard Montgomery; a Rupert paradummy which played a key part of the allied deception plan for D-Day; and Betty White's coat which belonged to a five-year-old girl from Gosport, a major embarkation point.

Local school children collected badges from troops prior to them leaving for Normandy, and Betty's mother stitched hers onto her coat, this item is often remarked upon by visitors to the museum.

Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council said:

"We are delighted that the BBC Antiques Roadshow team chose to film a special episode to mark the 80th Anniversary of D-Day at The D-Day Story museum. It's fantastic to see a variety of items in the museum's collection showcased to share the true scale of the events that took place in June 1944."

The show will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer at 8pm on Sunday (June 2nd).

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