He is the oldest cider-maker in Britain, producing the golden nectar for nearly 80 years, so it is no wonder that Oz Clarke and James May wanted to sample Frank Naish's legendary liquid for their televised salute to the best of British drink.

Fellow enthusiasts will be delighted to know that Mr Naish succeeded in converting Mr May, a notorious cider sceptic, and the evidence can be seen in episode seven of the series, Oz and James Drink to Britain, which will air at 8pm on BBC2 on February 17.

Indeed, it seems Mr May could not get enough of the stuff.

Mr Naish, 84, has been involved in cider-making since he was a child helping his father, Robert, gather and press the autumn harvest from the orchards on the family farm at Piltown, near Glastonbury.

Mr Naish, and his late brother Harold, never saw the need to change the old-world farming ways. The orchards have never known chemical fertilizers or pest-killers, and the farmhouse was lit by the kindly glow of candles and oil lamps until they finally decided to have electricity installed in 2003.

They bought a television, but hardly ever watched it. Mr Naish had never heard of Mr Clarke or Mr May, and certainly knew nothing of Mr May's love of driving high octane vehicles and giant lorries for Top Gear.

But he was happy to welcome them into the old stone barn where 80-year-old wine barrels hold the precious 2008 pressing.

And later Mr May had the chance to drive a slower, but no less exciting vehicle than those James Bond-style sports cars he tests for TV.

Mr Naish is said to be the last traditional wholesale cider-maker in England, producing 1,500 gallons of dry cider, with a clean, mellow flavour, each year.

He says: "We have regular customers coming for five gallons every weekend, and a lot goes to a farm shop near Brighton. They came last weekend for 50 gallons, and it is sold at CAMRA festivals all over the country where it has been judged the best in the festival out of 20 or 30 kinds.

"Our apples are organic and there is one variety that grew from a pip that we just call "ours" that has got a very high sugar content."

Mr Naish regularly plants new trees, ensuring there will be a good supply of fruit for the future, and for years most have been grafts of that special variety, now also known as "Naish's Own".

Until now, Mr Naish has used an ancient cider press believed to date from around 1840 and the oldest cider press in Somerset. But last autumn he imported a revolutionary new cider mill and press from the United States.

The press is an SX200 Squeezebox, the first one in Somerset, and uses a design based on the original rack and cloth method.

Paul Chant, a Midsomer Norton smallholder who has been helping Mr Naish with his cider-making in recent years says: "Unlike the now outdated European belt press, the Squeezebox produces a better quality cider, less sediment with a higher liquid substraction rate, and makes approximately 180 gallons from one ton of apples."

Mr Naish said: "It is a wonderful press. You get about 20-30 gallons to the ton extra because you don't get the sediment, and it is beautifully clean."

So that's good news for everyone who appreciates this special drink.

To buy Naish's cider, it is best to ring Mr Chant on 01761 417636 a couple of days in advance and when you call at Piltown Farm, remember to take your own container.