IN an echo of TV’s most famous downtrodden side-kick, Baldrick, Sir Tony Robinson came up with a ‘cunning plan’ to shift copies of his autobiography – an hour signing copies of the book at a Monmouth bookshop.

Even more cunningly, visitors to Rossiter’s Bookshop in Church Street who bought two copies received that staple of Baldrick’s diet, a turnip.

The actor and presenter – who is best known as Baldrick in the 80s comedy Blackadder and as a presenter of Time Team – was signing copies of his autobiography No Cunning Plan.

Does he tire of hearing the phrase ‘cunning plan’?

He told the Review: “The character of Baldrick and the phrase cunning plan transformed my life.

“Why wouldn’t I want to own it?

“The book took 11 months to write and I’m pleased to say it is all my own hand-writing – not a sniff of a ghost-writer.”

Sir Tony was the first of two high-profile guests at Rossiter’s last week. On Saturday astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield was at the shop signing copies of his new children’s book, The Darkest Dark.