The programme began as a 1977 BBC documentary about a London auction house doing a tour of the West Country in England. The pilot roadshow was recorded in Hereford on 17 May 1977 and presented by contributor Bruce Parker, a presenter of news/current affairs programme "Nationwide", and antiques expert Arthur Negus, who had previously worked on a similarly-themed show, called "Going for a Song". The pilot was so successful that it was transmitted and the format has remained almost unchanged ever since. Negus appeared on "Antiques Roadshow" until 1983. In the original BBC programme, various towns or famous places are advertised as venues. The show has since visited a number of other countries (including Canada in 2001 and Australia in 2005) and has been imitated by other TV production companies around the world.