Millions of viewers loved the Detectorists special on BBC2 over the Christmas period - and one of the key props used in the story was created very close to where it was filmed in Suffolk.
James Ewing's reliquary was crucial to the plot of Detectorists Christmas special. (Image: James Ewing)
The reliquary that is crucial to the story that unfolds as Andy and Lance (Mackenzie Crook and Toby Jones) discover the site of an Anglo-Saxon battle was created by Suffolk artist James Ewing.
Mr Ewing works in metal and has a workshop in East Suffok near the sites where Detectorists is filmed.
He was approached to make the reliquary after Mackenzie Crook, who also writes the programme, saw his work online.
James Ewing, from Suffolk, made a prop for the Detectorists. (Image: Charlotte Bond, Newsquest)
Mr Ewing said: "I had done some film and television work before - but not as big as this.
"They had an idea about what was needed and some work had been done - but it wasn't really what they wanted and I reworked it for the filming."
The reliquary plays a crucial part in the storyline and had to be made in a certain way to ensure it worked into the plot.
At one point Mr Ewing appears on screen, or at least his hands do, as he has to set it up for the dramatic climax of the story.
James Ewing's hands appeared on screen during Detectorists. (Image: James Ewing)
He said; "We had to film it out of sequence so we had to ensure everything worked well with that."
Most of Mr Ewing's work is private commissions, but he hopes the success of his Detectorists prop will lead to more film and television work.
Mr Ewing shows items he has made in his Suffolk workshop. (Image: Charlotte Bond, Newsquest)
James Ewing in his Suffolk workshop. (Image: Charlotte Bond, Newsquest)
He said: "I'm hoping my name will get around a bit more. I'm now on a register - like the 'Yellow Pages' of prop makers."
He specialises in metalic art - which has echoes in medieval and mythological legends - and hopes that the interest in that genre of television shows like Game of Thrones and the Last Kingdom will give him a boost.
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