Do you remember when Lovejoy was the talk of the town when it was filmed all over Suffolk?

Based on a series of books by Jonathan Gash, the television show starring Ian McShane first aired on the BBC in 1986. 

Bury Mercury: Cast of Lovejoy reading the East Anglian Daily Times during a breakCast of Lovejoy reading the East Anglian Daily Times during a break (Image: Newsquest)

Bury Mercury: Ian McShane as Lovejoy with Dudley Sutton as Tinker Dill pictured on boat off Walberswick during the first seriesIan McShane as Lovejoy with Dudley Sutton as Tinker Dill pictured on boat off Walberswick during the first series (Image: Newsquest)

Bury Mercury: Phyllis Logan as Lady Jane and Ian McShane as Lovejoy in the grounds of Felsham HallPhyllis Logan as Lady Jane and Ian McShane as Lovejoy in the grounds of Felsham Hall (Image: Newsquest)

The programme was filmed all over the county, with locations such as Bury St Edmunds, Lavenham, Long Melford, Sudbury, Ipswich and Bures all featuring in the show. 

The show became a hit with locals – with people trying to find ways to be a part of the show.

Filmed across eight years, the programme had 71 episodes which followed the adventures of the eponymous Lovejoy, a roguish antiques dealer. 

Diane Parish, who is well-known for her role as Denise Fox in EastEnders, also featured in the show between 1993 and 1994 as she played Beth Taylor.

Bury Mercury: Ian McShane and Chris Jury in the first series of LovejoyIan McShane and Chris Jury in the first series of Lovejoy (Image: Newsquest)

Bury Mercury: Ian McShane and his Lovejoy leading lady Caroline LangrisheIan McShane and his Lovejoy leading lady Caroline Langrishe (Image: Newsquest)

The BBC show ran on Sunday evenings between 1986 and 1994 and about 15 million viewers regularly tuned in to see the antics of lovable scoundrel Lovejoy.

The area it was filmed in became known as 'Lovejoy country' and was given a massive tourism boost as a result.