IT was a case of all hands on deck as Weobley got ready for a night to remember.

Basking in the glare of primetime TV, starry-eyed villagers met the co-presenter of BBC’s flagship programme, The One Show, Alex Jones, the iconic sofa and an 80-strong production and technical team as they ran through a live taster for the big one tonight.

Due to last-minute preparations for his Olympic commitments in Rio de Janeiro, co-host Matt Baker was unable to make Tuesday night’s brief filming session in the village.

But the One Show sofa, splendid in lurid lime green, was carried on to the set – Weobley’s central feature, the Rose Garden – by two local men, Gary Griffiths and Bill Brenner.

Meanwhile, the Salutation Inn’s public bar became the production hub and Weobley’s quaint bus shelter was bristling with cameras, cables and microphones.

Pub owner and chef, Stuart Elder kept calm and carried on, while having to feed the enormous BBC team during yesterday’s major event.

Alex Jones posed obligingly for selfies with any number of bystanders, and willingly joined Jo Ware and Weobley Parish Council chairman Lorraine Anderson for a quick picture on the sofa.

“It’s great to be here; this is such a pretty village,” said Alex, whose accommodation during two days of filming was a flat over a local shop. Matt Baker, also a Countryfile presenter, was put up at Devereux Wooton farm, Norton Canon, by farmers Patrick and Fay Wrixon.

The TV circus in Weobley was warmly welcomed by The One Show’s researcher, Becky Whitefoot.

The 27-year-old, responsible for much of the preliminary studies into Weobley as main contender for the special programme, grew up in Burghill and studied at Hereford Sixth Form College.

“Villages all over the country applied for this, but Weobley was eventually chosen, which was great for me!” she said.

Fame for Weobley does not stop there. TV programme Grand Designs, rumour has it, has designs on the village.

The One Show will broadcast live from Weobley tonight at 7pm on BBC1.