Polperro has a starring role on television tonight (Thursday, April 21).

TV duo the Hairy Bikers spent a day in Polperro uncovering smuggling secrets during filming for a new BBC series, and the village features in The Hairy Bikers’ Pubs That Built Britain at 6.30pm on BBC2. 

The Crumplehorn Inn and The Three Pilchards were among the locations visited by Dave Myers, Si King and the film crew, and Dave also took a trip out into the bay with fisherman Oliver Puckey. 

Polperro was chosen for the series because of its strong smuggling history. Landlady of the Crumplehorn Inn Sonja Crockford tells how, after the death of ‘smugglers’ nanker’ Zephania Job in 1822, the village held a large bonfire to destroy all the incriminating evidence contained in his documents. 

‘They missed one crate of his records, which was found 100 years later in 1922 in the loft of the Crumplehorn Inn by an amateur historian, Frank Perrycoste,’ she said. 

‘Without that find, no-one today would ever have known what exactly went on in Polperro during the smuggling era.’ 

Legend has it that contraband was hidden underneath the pub’s ancient flagstones. 

‘The slate flagstones are still the original ones that are somewhere between 500 and 700 years old, and many of them have broken corners, which lends credence to the legend,’ said Sonja. 

‘The BBC asked if they could lift one of the stones during filming - nobody has done this in more modern times - so we agreed.’ 

As for what was revealed, Sonja says that ‘you’ll have to wait and watch the series!’ 

The Hairy Bikers’ arrival in Polperro generated quite a buzz in the village, and the pair were happy to spend time chatting to locals and signing books. 

‘They were very friendly and had photos with whoever asked them - I found them very easy to talk to and work with,’ said Sonja. 

‘They said they were especially pleased to be filming a series which acknowledges the role of pubs in communities and in the country.’