TITANIC expert Andrew Aldridge is sailing into a new career as a TV host on the other side of the Atlantic thanks to his knowledge of the doomed ship.

Mr Aldridge, 42, who is the fourth generation of auctioneers from family firm Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, has just got back from a trip to the United States to meet the backers and producers of The Titanic Channel.

He said: "I have accepted an offer to be one of the hosts for the channel.

"The channel liked what they saw and asked me if I would like to be considered as one of the hosts of the new channel and things went from there. The channel launches in the United States later this month, I have filmed a number of pieces already and look forward to this exciting next chapter."

He will continue as a consultant for Henry Aldridge & Son working alongside his father Alan in their antique, collectables and Titanic auction rooms in Bath Road.

Mr Aldridge, who lives in Devizes with his wife and two children, said: "Having been interested in the Titanic since I was a young boy, it’s a dream come true to have a job as diverse as mine. I will be travelling to the United States several times a year, I flew into Atlanta Georgia and travelled up to Tennessee on the last trip."

The Devizes end of the business is definitely not sinking as it has just featured at the top of a list of the ten most remarkable auction houses in the UK compiled by justcollecting.com

Mr Aldridge, who has an honours degree in fine arts valuation and is a full member of the Elite Fine Arts Division of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors said: "We were delighted to see we are at the top. We are known all over the world for Titanic memorabilia but are now firmly established as one of the leading auctioneers outside of London for collectors items.

On Saturday (22) the auctioneers are holding their latest Titanic sale where among the items coming under the hammer will be a brass tag stamped Locker 14 F Deck that was in the possession of Third Class Steward Sidney Sedunary as the Titanic was sinking. It is expected to fetch between £30,000 and £50,000.

They are also auctioneering a unique pair of letters, the first written on board the Titanic by the ships assistant Surgeon Dr John Simpson and the second relating to Mr Simpson’s fate from the highest ranked surviving crew member Second Officer Charles Lightoller just after a fortnight after the Titanic sank.