Wiltshire TV star writes book (From Wiltshire Times)

Wiltshire TV star writes book

9:20am Wednesday 5th December 2007 in Melksham By Charley Morgan

DOING up a house, writing a book and getting married in the space of a year is no mean feat for a BBC presenter who films on location for 220 days a year.

Paul Martin, 47, presenter of BBC 2's Flog it, who bought an idyllic but run down two-bedroom cottage set in 30 acres near the village of Seend earlier this year, has also released his first book called Paul Martin's Britain.

It is a behind the scenes look at his life on the road while filming Flog It but includes the stories behind some of the antiques including some social history.

Martin said: "People kept saying they loved the programme and why didn't I write a book.

"It's taken me a year to write and it was a lot of hard work.

"It's all about my travels and how the programme is made, what goes on behind the scenes.

"It's also about how I got the job, how scared I was being on TV.

"But three quarters of it is about social history, the changing landscape from the 18th century through the Industrial Revolution to the present day."

Martin felt strongly that he wanted to feature the local museums and older people he met around the country who hold the real history of their areas and communities.

The book tops off a hectic year the cottage he is still in the process of renovating, but he has managed to plant 600 trees, build stables for his beloved ex-racehorses and finish the exterior of the house.

He married his girlfriend in September but the couple have yet to take their honeymoon due to their busy schedules.

It mirrors his eclectic career having started off in set design at Pinewood Studios before a friend led him into antiques and he bought a stall at Portobello market in London's Notting Hill.

During this time he also played in a signed band, worked as an antiques stylist for magazines while owning a share in an antiques shop.

Paul Martin's Britain is available for £16.99 from bookshops and online.