AN ARMCHAIR that once belonged to a television legend and was part of the set of a major political programme has gone under the hammer.

Sir David Frost’s armchair, in which he hosted BBC’s Breakfast with Frost from 1993 until 2005, sold for £260 at Northallerton Auctions.

The veteran broadcaster, who famously won an admission from former US president Richard Nixon that he had let his country down over the Watergate affair, used the yellow armchair when he interviewed many of the world’s leaders, including Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and George Bush Senior and Junior.

When Breakfast With Frost came to an end the armchair was won in a raffle by a North Yorkshire resident, who has decided to sell it after downsizing his property.

Brian Weighell, Northallerton Auctions’ company secretary, said: “This was a very interesting and unusual piece so we were glad to have it. There was a reserve of £250 on it so the vendor is happy with the price. I know the buyer is a dealer but I’m not sure what she will want to do with it yet.

“We had more interest from the media than we did from members of the public, though. We have not really seen anything like this in terms of its history at the auction mart before.”