TIME Team presenter Tony Robinson has revealed why he is backing the bid to save Colchester’s Roman circus.

Former Blackadder star Tony is a patron of the campaign to get a heritage centre on the site of the ancient arena’s starting gates.

Speaking about the initiative for the first time, he said the whole town should work together to ensure the dream of buying the land required becomes a reality.

The TV veteran, who made a Time Team special about the circus’s discovery, said: “The Roman circus is a fantastic archaeological find – the only such building to have been discovered in England.

“I’m proud Time Team played its part in bringing the dig to the public’s attention. I hope local people, politicians and businesses will all play their part in ensuring as much of it as possible, including the starting stalls, is made secure and accessible for future generations.”

Mr Robinson, who took time out from his busy filming schedule to speak to the Gazette, has long-standing links with the Roman circus site.

The opening sequence of Blackadder Goes Forth, filmed long before the circus’s existence was known, was shot a stone’s throw away on a Colchester Garrison parade ground.

In 2005, Time Team carried out a dig for its Channel 4 documentary on the circus, which revealed more of the building’s foundations.

Mr Robinson said at the time he believed the site should be preserved but, until now, has not commented publicly since becoming a campaign patron.

Campaigners now have £115,000 of the initial £200,000 needed to purchase the Victorian former sergeants’ mess where the circus starting gates are buried in the garden.

The plan is to create a visitor centre in the building and hopefully also expose the gates’ foundations under a protective covering.