Broads Authority's reed-cutter on The New Paul O'Grady Show
The Broads Authority’s reed-cutter, Eric Edwards, will be featured on The New Paul O’Grady Show on Channel 4 on Thursday 26 April 5.00pm.
Eric, arguably the country’s most famous marshman, will be teaching Essex twins Nick and John Morgan how to cut, dress and tie reed 'the old way' at How Hill National Nature Reserve.
Nick and John enter into the traditional spirit by donning Eric look-alike neckerchiefs, hats and smocks as they master their scythes.
Eric, an MBE, has been cutting the reed at How Hill for 40 years. Despite his solitary job Eric has become a media celebrity. He has appeared in the Generation Game with Bruce Forsyth and Jim Davidson three times, was interviewed by Sir Harry Secombe in Highway, Pam Rhodes in Songs of Praise, and Pam Ayres for Radio 4, and has featured in Countryfile, Rosie and Jim, Anglia TV’s A Way with Words, and in This Morning with Fern Britton. He is a regular in television documentaries and appears on cards, postcards and in paintings.
Norfolk born Eric has shown both Prince Charles and Margaret Thatcher how to stack and dress reeds on separate visits to How Hill. He has his own collection of Victorian marsh tools and traps.
Special guests on the show will be Zoe Wanamaker and Alan Carr. The New Paul O’Grady Show is on Monday to Friday 5.00pm on Channel 4 every week.
