The streets had been packed, the cameras had been rolling as Paddy McGuinness and his co-presenters got here to Bolton to movie a particular episode of the hit present.
On March 5, 2020, Prime Gear presenters Paddy, Freddie Flintoff, and Chris Harris introduced a contact of tv glamour to Bolton as they filmed in and across the city.
The go to fashioned a part of a 24-hour problem wherein the trio had been tasked with spending a full day inside their vehicles, with Paddy behind the wheel of a Tesla, Freddie in a Volvo, and Chris driving a BMW.
Filming started within the early hours on Le Mans Crescent, drawing crowds of excited followers desirous to catch a glimpse of the presenters in motion.
Patrick O’Reilly, who waited on the nook of Queen Avenue to see the celebs drive previous, mentioned: “I attempted getting a photograph earlier than however this time I am going to document it.
“I like Freddie and Paddy however I’m extra of a fan of the old-fashioned Prime Gear.
“However these lot are good, I am simply attempting to catch them going previous.”
The problem noticed the presenters tour numerous places throughout Bolton, together with the market, the place Paddy was seen bartering from his automotive with a stallholder for blankets, pillows, and duvets.
Chatting with The Bolton Information throughout a break in filming, Paddy mentioned: “It is superb.
“This problem we’re doing right now, we’re spending 24 hours in our vehicles, so we’re not allowed out.
“We’re occurring a tour of Bolton.
“So we’re driving onto Bolton Market, and we’re driving onto numerous locations that I am unable to inform you but.
“Nevertheless it’s good.
“I’d like to take them in Bolton Museum as a result of I keep in mind as a child entering into there… and that mummified physique in there.
“And it is nonetheless in there.
“It is certainly one of them issues the place you go ‘oh, take a look at that there.’
“However yeah will probably be good.
“They have not seen anyplace within the city but.
“That is the beginning.”
The presenters had been additionally noticed selecting up lunch at Rigby’s Chippy in Deane and filming scenes close to Bolton Faculty.
Followers younger and previous gathered all through the day, with two-year-old Quintin Smith posing for a photograph with the celebs and others queuing for autographs and selfies.
The thrill even reached close by companies, with employees at Adoption Now’s head workplace in Bolton managing to seize a selfie with the presenters throughout filming.
The go to did trigger some disruption, with site visitors increase round Le Mans Crescent as filming occurred.
Regardless of the delays, the temper remained upbeat, with Mr McGuinness and Mr Flintoff taking time to signal autographs and greet followers.
One father or mother mentioned: “I’ve simply acquired an autograph for my son.
“He’ll be so pleased.”
Paddy had teased the go to on Instagram the day earlier than, joking: “We’ve been to Nepal, we’ve been to Peru, we’ve been to Borneo.
“However the place are we tomorrow lads? Bolton!
“They’re buzzing.
“The capital of the UK – come on!”