Antiques Roadshow viewers gobsmacked as BBC test card star looks unrecognisable on anniversary special
ANTIQUES Roadshow viewers were left flabbergasted after an episode featured the star of the iconic BBC test card.
Test Card F featured a little girl and a rather haunting clown figure and was used for around three decades, signalling that no programmes were being broadcast.
Carole Hersee, who was the little girl featured on the card, rocked up on Antiques Roadshow to chat about her unexpected fame.
She explained: “My father was helping to design the new test card for colour television, which is what the F stands for, because it’s the first test card in colour.
“Previous letters were all black and white and they decided they wanted a child and the committee just said, ‘Why not just use one of your daughters?’
“Unfortunately, my sister had lost a tooth so she didn’t get picked and I did!”
READ MORE ON ANTIQUES ROADSHOW
Carole also revealed that Bubbles the clown was her own toy.
“I made him from a kit, because they needed the primary colours,” she explained.
Meanwhile, the X on the noughts and crosses marks the centre of the screen.
“I never got to win or lose the game,” Carole joked.
Bubbles was valued between £1,500 and £2,000 – but Carole insisted he’s “not going anywhere”.
Most read in News TV
The test card was first broadcast on July 1, 1967 on BBC and was developed by Carole’s father, George Hersee, and was frequently broadcast until 1987.
Elsewhere on the special episode of the show, a Doctor Who fan had their incredible collection of autographs valued at an astonishing £30,000.
Antiques Roadshow returns on Sunday at 6:20pm on BBC One.
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun Showbiz team?
Email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 0207 782 4220 .
We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.