FORMER TOWIE star Gemma Collins paid a visit to a “quirky” Westcliff shop yesterday to shoot a segment for a hit BBC show. 

Film crews descended on Sally’s Out Of Curiosity, on London Road, to film a scene for an upcoming Celebrity Antiques Road Trip episode which features Gemma, 42.

The popular show revolves around antiques experts and celebrities setting off on road trips around the UK searching for rare items and competing to make the most money at auction. 

And it is not the first time that Sally’s Out Of Curiosity, owned by 72-year-old Sally Tyrie, has featured on the show.

The shop has been a staple of London Road since 2000, and first featured on the show in August 2021, when former EastEnders legend Danny Dyer stepped through the doors to pick up a silver Albert chain.

Speaking to the Echo, Sally said: “I think they like the shop’s quirkiness, quality, and the fact we have anything a little bit unusual.

“Antiques Road Trip always seem to pick on this shop. I’ve had Sophie Ellis-Bextor, I’ve had numerous experts, I’ve had Danny Dyer.”

Gemma’s episode of Antiques Road Trip will air later this year, where it will be revealed what she picked up at Sally’s shop. 

And the shop hasn’t just proved a hit with the BBC, it is also popular with the public - with some customers travelling just to visit Sally. 

The business owner added: “They absolutely love it. We’ve got people who come from Australia, and they always come over here to see the shop. 

“We have so many regulars. I had a guy who came in here recently, and he hadn’t been in here for about 10 years. 

“He was really pleased to see me still here.”

The shop has developed over the years, with Sally concious that cash is tight for many residents following the Covid pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. 

As a result, she does all she can to keep prices down. 

She added: “It was a completely different shop because it was more antiques. But as the years have gone on, it’s what people can afford. 

“So, I’m not a greedy person. I do not touch eBay. I’m a people’s person, hands-on, I like to speak to people. I’m not into computers or anything like that.

“I go to auction houses. I go to boot sales, I get in my van and drive up to London and go to antique fairs. I used to do house clearances. If somebody passes away, I will go round and pick a few bits and pieces.”