HADDINGTON and Longniddry are set to feature on television in the new year after being filmed for a BBC programme.

Great British Railway Journeys, presented by former MP Michael Portillo, stopped off in East Lothian on Saturday.

The popular programme, shown on BBC2, is now in its eighth series, with the former Transport Minister exploring a different route each week.

The new series will see Mr Portillo making his way along the East Coast Mainline, following the route of the Flying Scotsman.

Along the way, he stopped off at Longniddry before making the 7.5-mile journey to Haddington to explore the history of the author and government reformer Samuel Smiles and the Victorian concept, penned by Smiles, of ‘Self-Help’ and personal development.

Mr Portillo previously studied Smiles, who was born in the town in 1812, for his A-levels.

The crew spent time exploring, with Alex Fitzgerald, information governance team manager for East Lothian Council, among those filmed for the programme.

Mr Fitzgerald said: “The whole team in the John Gray Centre were thrilled to be approached by a company working for the BBC on Great British Train Journeys.

“Any opportunity to showcase an illustrious character from Haddington’s past is not to be missed.

“It fell to me to be the point of contact and it was fascinating to learn more about Samuel Smiles in the run-up to filming.

“The whole team were very friendly and they made it very easy for me to tell the story and showcase the beauties of Haddington at the same time.”

Afterwards, the BBC crew of five plus Mr Portillo made their way to Lamp House Music, off Haddington’s Hospital Road – the site of the town’s former railway station.

Mr Portillo – who also stopped off at Haddington’s Maitlandfield House Hotel and the Smiles’ family shop, now Diggory’s Cafe, on High Street – was introduced to some of Lamp House Music’s adult pupils who all participate in the music school’s evening ukulele lessons.

The music school encourage all ages and abilities to take part in their classes and, following the theme of self-help, adult pupils were interviewed about why they take music lessons at Lamp House Music, and what benefits they get out of doing so.

There was then a ukulele lesson, led by Lamp House Music’s guitar and ukulele tutor Fraser Fulton, in which Mr Portillo happily took part playing on a purple ukulele., and the visit was deemed an enjoyable success.

Roz Maguire, of Lamp House Music, added: “It was a real pleasure having Michael and the BBC team visit Lamp House Music.

“They were very complimentary about the work that we do and the welcoming and supportive environment that we provide to pupils of all ages and abilities.

“Being located in such a charming and interesting former railway building adds to the whole customer experience, but we never expected to have the BBC pop by – we look forward to seeing the new series.”

The programme is expected to be broadcast early in 2017.