VIEWERS of the popular BBC one television programme The One Show may have been surprised to see Malmesbury as one of the hot topics of discussion on Tuesday night’s show.

The programme, which was presented by John Sergeant and Myleene Klass while usual presenters Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley are on holiday, broadcast a feature on the myth that Malmesbury was once the original capital of the country and told the story of King Athelstan who is buried in the town.

During the show, presenter Angelica Bell showed viewers around the town’s most famous sights, including the Abbey and the market square.

She said: “The picturesque town of Malmesbury in North Wiltshire is certainly very lovely but in the race to become Britain’s capital you’ve got to admit Malmesbury has been left behind.

“It has an Oxford Street but it is hardly packed with shoppers, and it has a financial district– three banks, a building society and a post office.

“It also has an abbey, a river and some beautiful bridges but that’s where the similarities to London start to fade.”

Miss Bell talked to local historian Charles Vernon and warden Terry Soule from the Old Corporation about the town’s history.

Mr Vernon added: “We’d like to think because King Athelstan lived here it would have become the first capital of old England.”