FORMER The Only Way Is Essex star, and Brentwood businessman, Mick Norcross will this week open a new antiques shop in the town.

Sugar Hut supremo Mr Norcross and business partner Gavin Hutchinson will start their new venture at the former Neil Graham Gallery in Ingrave Road on Friday.

It will sell fine furniture, antiques and collectibles, as well as offer an interior design service with the store being renamed Neil Graham Interiors.

Norcross said: “My passion for many years has been to have a business trading in antiques.

“I have antiques around me at home and I enjoy going to antique fairs to buy. I’ve been to a two-day fair in Sussex this week. I go all over the country and into Europe.

“I’ll be in and out of the shop all the time. There is a good market for this in brentwood its a small business but a real passion of mine.”

Mr Norcross explained why they had struck with the shop’s name.

He said: “The shop has been there for 28 years, the owner’s retired and we have decided we don’t want to change it too much.

Asked if he’d be interested to let TV cameras in to film, he said: “If it promoted the business I can see no harm in it.

“I don’t claim to be an antiques expert, but I have a love of it. I just like nice things. Television is full of antiques shows at the moment so it could be a way forward.”

Lin Heath, owner of French Quarter in Crown Street, said: “I love the fact that we have got these premises being filled mostly by nice shops which are independent.

“Some people might not like TOWIE, but if someone like Mick is going to open an antiques shop in Brentwood, then that is great.”