NATIONAL TV icons celebrated all that Dedham has to offer in a episode for a new TV series. 

Esteemed journalist Sir Trevor McDonald, 84, joined comedian Bill Bailey, 59, in the second episode of the Perfect Pub Walks with Bill Bailey on Channel 4.

In the episode, the pair had a go at ringing the bells of St Mary's Church in Dedham, rowed a rowboat from The Boatyard in the River Stour and had a glass of wine at The Sun Inn.

Gazette: Relaxed - Bill Bailey and Sir Trevor McDonald enjoying a red wine at the Sun InnRelaxed - Bill Bailey and Sir Trevor McDonald enjoying a red wine at the Sun Inn (Image: Channel 4)

Sir Trevor spoke about the racism he experienced after moving to Britain from Trinidad in 1969, to work as a producer for the BBC.

He is well known as one of the country’s first black journalists, who inspired many.

Piers Baker, landlord at The Sun Inn, said: “It was great to be featured in the show. Dedham is well known and it was nice for them to highlight Flatford and the countryside.

Gazette: Discovering - Sir Trevor McDonald outside Willy Lott's Cottage in FlatfordDiscovering - Sir Trevor McDonald outside Willy Lott's Cottage in Flatford (Image: Channel 4)

“It was a bit more extensive than I thought I was going to be, the pub was mentioned lots of times.

“Lots of people got in touch to say it was nice to see the pub in the episode.

“Sir Trevor McDonald was nice and was interested in how the pub trade has been over the years. He was a really charming man.

“We did film a couple of segments that weren’t shown about the history of the pub and an outside staircase that’s Elizabethan.

Gazette: Emotive - Sir Trevor McDonald and Bill Bailey had in-depth discussionsEmotive - Sir Trevor McDonald and Bill Bailey had in-depth discussions (Image: Channel 4)

“Bill didn’t say a lot, but Trevor was the most chit-chatty.

“We also spoke about artist Tom Keating and we went out the back and filmed around the Elizabethan staircase.”

The artist was believed to have painted the Sun Inn sign and was a regular at the Dedham pub.

Mr Baker was appreciative of their visit but wished they focused more on the beer at the pub.

Gazette: Landlord - Piers Baker at the Sun InnLandlord - Piers Baker at the Sun Inn (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “It would have been nice if the series had focused more on the beer at the pub as they had a beer at the other sights.

“They didn’t really talk about beer or the importance of beers and brewery to pubs.

“Beers and pubs go hand in hand and most of our customers who visit after a walk, have a beer.

“Our brewers play an important role in the life of a pub and it would have been nice to have a focus on the beer.”