Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Plans to film an episode of Antiques Roadshow from Buckfast Abbey have been criticised over fears it will promote the controversial drink.

Presenter Fiona Bruce will be joined by a team of experts at the ancient religious site on September 13 for a show celebrating the abbey’s 1000th anniversary.

But politicians say the location is inappropriate due to concerns over the “dangerous” drink – including its link to 43.4 per cent of offences committed by Scottish prisoners.

Now they have called on the BBC to cancel their visit to avoid ­publicising the monks’ tonic wine.

(Image: BBC)

Alex Neil, SNP MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, said: “Buckfast has been the scourge of my constituency in Lanarkshire and elsewhere in central Scotland for a great number of years now, so I have grave concerns about the BBC giving its makers the glare of positive publicity.

“They are supposed to act with a degree of social responsibility and I think this is the last location they should take their cameras to.

“They must give a commitment that it is not going to give this dangerous drink a free advert.”

Neil, who last year called for Buckfast to cut their 37mg per 100ml caffeine content, added: “I think people should protest to the BBC and try to get them to change their mind because clearly this sends out the wrong signal, particularly to young people.

(Image: SWNS/BBC)

“I will be writing to the BBC. If they cannot cancel filming at Buckfast Abbey, I will at least be seeking an undertaking that they are not in any way advertising or supporting the promotion of Buckfast tonic wine.”

A Scottish Prison Service study in 2015 found that 43.4 per cent of inmates had consumed Buckfast before committing their offence – despite it accounting for less than one per cent of Scottish alcohol sales.

Former Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell – now serving in the Lords – was one of the first campaigners to call for the monks to stop selling Buckfast in Scotland. She said: “The BBC have to be responsible in how they handle this.”

It was revealed last month that the tonic wine enjoyed record sales of £43.2million in 2017.

Distributors J Chandler and Co reported a pre-tax profits rise of more than £750,000 to £4.3million.

(Image: PA)

A 75cl bottle has an alcohol content of 15 per cent and the caffeine equivalent of four cups of coffee.

J Chandler sales boss Stewart Wilson said: “When Alex Neil was in the Cabinet, we wrote to him when he was the health secretary to ask if the Scottish Government held any concerns around our ­product and we received a letter to say there was no issue.

"So we are somewhat surprised he now seems to have a vendetta against us.”

A spokeswoman for Buckfast Abbey said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Antiques Roadshow in September.”