Last Saturday, patrons of Pin Mill's Butt & Oyster were intrigued to see a BBC crew filming David Dimbleby sitting at one of the outside tables, with the Hard stretched out behind him and a copy of "We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea" in his hand…

It was all in aid of a new BBC One series in which David tours various parts of the UK coast in his own classic boat, Rocket, introducing stories on how artists and writers have related to the sea. Arthur Ransome was chosen for his involvement with the Nancy Blackett, and how his purchase of her led to the writing of the book.

Nancy Blackett was already moored off the Hard, approximately where the Goblin's mooring might have been, and David was filmed rowing out to her, and climbing aboard, to be met by Nancy Blackett Trust Chairman Peter Willis. The two of them were then filmed sitting in Nancy's cockpit discussing Ransome's passion for the sea.

The four-part series, currently untitled, but provisionally labelled "Rocket Round Britain", visits the West Country, the south coast, Scotland and – last to be filmed – the East Coast, from the Norfolk-Suffolk border down to the Thames. It is due to be aired in November.

Photos: I.Jacobson