Bargain Hunt
Encyclopedia
Bargain Hunt is a British television programme in which two pairs of contestants are challenged to buy antiques
at a fair and then sell them in an auction for a profit. It has aired on BBC One
since 13 March 2000 in a daytime version and from 22 August 2002 to 13 November 2004 in a primetime version. David Dickinson
began as host of the daytime version and went on to also present the primetime version. Tim Wonnacott
has presented the daytime version since 2003.
Two teams – designated the "Reds" and the "Blues" – compete. Each team has two members, who wear matching T-shirts or fleeces that correspond to their team's colour. The contestants in most episodes are members of the public, though some shows feature teams of celebrity players instead. At the beginning of the show, each team is given a set amount of money with which to purchase antiques. The objective is to find items that will earn the team a profit when later sold at auction. Each team is accompanied by an antiques trade expert, though it is the contestants' decision whether to heed the advice given by their expert. After the contestants have completed their purchases and presented them to the host, home viewers are shown a "what the auctioneer thinks" segment in which the auctioneer appraises the buys and gives the auction estimate. At the auction, as each item is sold, the host compares the auction sale price to the price originally paid by the team, with the difference being either subtracted from or added to the team's total. If the final total shows a profit, the team receives that profit in cash; otherwise, the team receives nothing. The profit/loss does not take into account commission (buyers' premium) or VAT.
The show is punctuated by footage of the host visiting a place of historical interest, such as a stately home
or museum, and talking about the items housed there. Occasionally, the show features phone-in competitions for home viewers.
In the early David Dickinson-era episodes, teams were given £200 each, and could buy as many or as few items as they liked within the hour given to wander around a trade fair. The item rule was later changed so that teams had to buy up to three items, and later revised again to a three-item limit. After Tim Wonnacott became host, the money was increased to £300, and a new feature called the "swap item" was introduced. Each expert chose an item of their own, and the team could replace one of their own choices with the "swap item" if they wished to. The host, when offering the option to a team, would often ask, "Swap or No Swap?" Originally, the experts were given an unspecified amount of money to buy the extra item; the rule was later changed so that the experts could only use whatever money was left of the team's £300 budget (the remaining money was referred to by Wonnacott as the "leftover lolly"). Under the revised rule, if a team used its entire budget, the expert could not choose a "swap item."
The "swap" rule was changed again in 2007, becoming the "bonus item." The expert is still given any "leftover lolly" to buy this bonus item, which is entered into the auction. Just after the auction of their own items, and before that of the bonus item, teams must decide whether the auction results of the bonus item should be added to their own auction lots. Teams can potentially add to their profit with the bonus item, but it can also subtract from a team's earnings if it loses money.
On average, the majority of contestants' items lose money: the teams are paying retail prices at fairs, whereas auction prices are generally lower. Large profits are fairly rare, though it is not particularly unusual for contestants to take home a small profit. Teams achieving the difficult feat of earning a profit on all three items are awarded a "golden gavel"; originally a wooden trophy, but latterly a lapel pin.
Items are entered in auctions without reserve, so almost always sell. In the rare event that an item is left unsold, the team used to get to keep the item but this is no longer the case.
and the format is the same as the main show but Wonnacott's visit to see an antiques collection or stately home
is replaced by a feature where each celebrity contestant discusses antiques with him. Wonnacott might show them a borrowed collection of antiques brought along for the show that he believes would interest the celebrity (this may be related to the occupation of the celebrity), and in turn the celebrity shows Wonnacott an antique or collectable belonging to themselves. There is no suggestion of what to do with any profit if the teams make any, but most decide to give it to charity. Series 2 began on 23 March 2009.
. Later a primetime version, hosted by Dickinson, was also made (2002–2004), which was similar to the daytime show except that the teams' budget was increased to £500. It was on this version of the show that the record was set for the greatest profit earned on Bargain Hunt. A team led by Michael Hogben
purchased a Royal Worcester
box at Ardingly
Fair for £140; the item made £800 in the live primetime auction.
When Dickinson gave up the daytime show to concentrate on the primetime version, his place was taken by Tim Wonnacott
, an antiques expert already well-known to UK viewers as a long-standing expert on the Antiques Roadshow
.
In April 2005 it was announced that the primetime version of Bargain Hunt had been axed; however the daytime version continued. Reruns of the daytime version (from the Dickinson era) also appear on BBC Entertainment and BBC America
.
The show occasionally features well-known contestants, such as 'Allo 'Allo!
stars Gorden Kaye
and Sue Hodge
.
The show airs on the Australian Foxtel and Austar cable television channel, Lifestyle, at 6.30 pm weekdays. The show also airs on the Seven Network's digital station 7Two (Prime's 7Two, in Regional Areas), weekdays at 6.00 pm.
(described as the "old" team), while the blue team featured Kate Bliss
and Charles Hanson (deemed the "young" team); the "bonus items" were purchased by Tim Wonnacott himself. The teams were given £500 to spend, rather than the usual £300, with any profits going to charities chosen by the team members. The red team made a profit of £245, beating the blue team's break-even.
The show also featured outtakes and memorable clips from previous shows.
The programme marked its tenth anniversary on air with a week of special editions broadcast between 15 and 19 March 2010. These followed a similar format to the 500th episode, except that the teams were given only the usual £300 to buy items, with a separate £100 per team alloted for the bonus items.
Antiques
An antique is an old collectible item. It is collected or desirable because of its age , beauty, rarity, condition, utility, personal emotional connection, and/or other unique features...
at a fair and then sell them in an auction for a profit. It has aired on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
since 13 March 2000 in a daytime version and from 22 August 2002 to 13 November 2004 in a primetime version. David Dickinson
David Dickinson
David Dickinson is an English antiques expert, television presenter and entrepreneur.-Biography:...
began as host of the daytime version and went on to also present the primetime version. Tim Wonnacott
Tim Wonnacott
Tim Wonnacott is a Chartered Auctioneer, Chartered Surveyor English antiques expert, television presenter. He has been Director of one of the world's oldest auction houses, Sotheby's...
has presented the daytime version since 2003.
Format
Bargain Hunt has undergone various format and rule changes since it premiered in 2000. Most episodes are 45 minutes in length, though 30-minute versions and one-hour "live" editions have also been produced.Two teams – designated the "Reds" and the "Blues" – compete. Each team has two members, who wear matching T-shirts or fleeces that correspond to their team's colour. The contestants in most episodes are members of the public, though some shows feature teams of celebrity players instead. At the beginning of the show, each team is given a set amount of money with which to purchase antiques. The objective is to find items that will earn the team a profit when later sold at auction. Each team is accompanied by an antiques trade expert, though it is the contestants' decision whether to heed the advice given by their expert. After the contestants have completed their purchases and presented them to the host, home viewers are shown a "what the auctioneer thinks" segment in which the auctioneer appraises the buys and gives the auction estimate. At the auction, as each item is sold, the host compares the auction sale price to the price originally paid by the team, with the difference being either subtracted from or added to the team's total. If the final total shows a profit, the team receives that profit in cash; otherwise, the team receives nothing. The profit/loss does not take into account commission (buyers' premium) or VAT.
The show is punctuated by footage of the host visiting a place of historical interest, such as a stately home
Stately home
A stately home is a "great country house". It is thus a palatial great house or in some cases an updated castle, located in the British Isles, mostly built between the mid-16th century and the early part of the 20th century, as well as converted abbeys and other church property...
or museum, and talking about the items housed there. Occasionally, the show features phone-in competitions for home viewers.
In the early David Dickinson-era episodes, teams were given £200 each, and could buy as many or as few items as they liked within the hour given to wander around a trade fair. The item rule was later changed so that teams had to buy up to three items, and later revised again to a three-item limit. After Tim Wonnacott became host, the money was increased to £300, and a new feature called the "swap item" was introduced. Each expert chose an item of their own, and the team could replace one of their own choices with the "swap item" if they wished to. The host, when offering the option to a team, would often ask, "Swap or No Swap?" Originally, the experts were given an unspecified amount of money to buy the extra item; the rule was later changed so that the experts could only use whatever money was left of the team's £300 budget (the remaining money was referred to by Wonnacott as the "leftover lolly"). Under the revised rule, if a team used its entire budget, the expert could not choose a "swap item."
The "swap" rule was changed again in 2007, becoming the "bonus item." The expert is still given any "leftover lolly" to buy this bonus item, which is entered into the auction. Just after the auction of their own items, and before that of the bonus item, teams must decide whether the auction results of the bonus item should be added to their own auction lots. Teams can potentially add to their profit with the bonus item, but it can also subtract from a team's earnings if it loses money.
On average, the majority of contestants' items lose money: the teams are paying retail prices at fairs, whereas auction prices are generally lower. Large profits are fairly rare, though it is not particularly unusual for contestants to take home a small profit. Teams achieving the difficult feat of earning a profit on all three items are awarded a "golden gavel"; originally a wooden trophy, but latterly a lapel pin.
Items are entered in auctions without reserve, so almost always sell. In the rare event that an item is left unsold, the team used to get to keep the item but this is no longer the case.
Bargain Hunt Famous Finds
A separate celebrity version of the show premiered on 1 December 2008 on BBC2 featuring team pairs made up of one well-known personality accompanied by a friend or family member. The show is presented by Tim WonnacottTim Wonnacott
Tim Wonnacott is a Chartered Auctioneer, Chartered Surveyor English antiques expert, television presenter. He has been Director of one of the world's oldest auction houses, Sotheby's...
and the format is the same as the main show but Wonnacott's visit to see an antiques collection or stately home
Stately home
A stately home is a "great country house". It is thus a palatial great house or in some cases an updated castle, located in the British Isles, mostly built between the mid-16th century and the early part of the 20th century, as well as converted abbeys and other church property...
is replaced by a feature where each celebrity contestant discusses antiques with him. Wonnacott might show them a borrowed collection of antiques brought along for the show that he believes would interest the celebrity (this may be related to the occupation of the celebrity), and in turn the celebrity shows Wonnacott an antique or collectable belonging to themselves. There is no suggestion of what to do with any profit if the teams make any, but most decide to give it to charity. Series 2 began on 23 March 2009.
Celebrity contestants
| Series 1 | Series 2 |
|---|---|
| Dame Kelly Holmes and Sally Gunnell Sally Gunnell Sally Jane Janet Gunnell OBE is a former British Olympic champion in the 400 m hurdles... OBE |
Henry Cooper Henry Cooper (boxer) Sir Henry Cooper OBE KSG was an English heavyweight boxer known for the effectiveness of his left hook, "Enry's 'Ammer", and his knockdown of the young Muhammad Ali... and Geoff Capes Geoff Capes Geoffrey Lewis Capes is a former athlete, strongman and professional Highland Games competitor... |
| Lembit Opik Lembit Öpik Lembit Öpik is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Montgomeryshire in Wales from 1997 until he lost his seat in the 2010 General Election... MP Member of Parliament A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,... and Edwina Currie Edwina Currie Edwina Jonesnée Cohen is a former British Member of Parliament. First elected as a Conservative Party MP in 1983, she was a Junior Health Minister for two years, before resigning in 1988 over the controversy over salmonella in eggs... |
Tony Blackburn Tony Blackburn Tony Blackburn is an English disc jockey, who broadcast on the "pirate" stations Radio Caroline and Radio London in the 1960s and was the first disc jockey to broadcast on BBC Radio 1 in 1967. In 2002 he was the winner of the ITV reality TV programme I'm a Celebrity..... and Alvin Stardust Alvin Stardust Alvin Stardust is an English pop singer and stage actor.-Career:... |
| Helen Lederer Helen Lederer Helen Lederer is a Welsh comedienne, writer and actress who emerged as part of the alternative comedy boom at the beginning of the 1980s.-Career:... and Bobby Davro Bobby Davro Bobby Davro is a British actor and comedian. He is mainly known for his work as an impressionist... |
Johnny Ball Johnny Ball Johnny Ball is a British television personality, a great populariser of mathematics and the father of BBC Radio 2 DJ Zoë Ball.-Early life:... and Eddie Large Eddie Large Eddie Large is the stage name of Edward Hugh McGinnis, a British comedian. He is best known as a partner in the double act Little and Large, with Syd Little.... |
| Ruth Badger Ruth Badger Ruth Badger is a British businesswoman, best known as the 2006 runner-up in the second series of the UK version of reality TV show The Apprentice, in which contestants compete for a £100,000-a-year job working for British business magnate Sir Alan Sugar... and Tamara Beckwith Tamara Beckwith Tamara Beckwith is an English socialite, noted for her coverage in glossy celebrity magazines such as OK! and Hello! magazine.-Early life:... |
Gary Rhodes Gary Rhodes Gary Rhodes OBE is an English restaurateur, cookery writer, and chef, known for his love of British cuisine and distinctive spiked hair style .... and Brian Turner Brian Turner (chef) Brian Turner CBE is a British chef, based in London. He has appeared as a cook on BBC2's Ready Steady Cook since 1994 as well as presenting other cookery programmes.-Career:... |
| Jilly Goolden Jilly Goolden Jilly Goolden is a British wine critic, journalist and television personality.-Education:Goolden was educated at an independent convent school ,-Career:... and Theo Paphitis Theo Paphitis Theodorus "Theo" Paphitis is a retail magnate and British entrepreneur of Greek Cypriot origin. He made the majority of his fortune in the retail sector, and is best known to the general public for his appearances on the BBC business programme Dragons' Den and as former chairman of Millwall... |
Janet Ellis Janet Ellis Janet Ellis is a British television presenter and actress, who appeared on BBC children's television in the 1980s, including a four year period as a presenter on Blue Peter, a role she won after hosting the award-winning children's programme Jigsaw.- Early life :Ellis's father was a soldier,... and Valerie Singleton |
| Connie Fisher Connie Fisher Connie Fisher is a Welsh actress and singer, who won the BBC One talent contest, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?... and Ian 'H' Watkins |
Christopher Timothy Christopher Timothy Christopher Timothy is a Welsh actor, television director and writer. Timothy is possibly best known today for his role as James Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small; more recently he has starred as Dr. Brendan 'Mac' McGuire in the British television drama Doctors... and Lysette Anthony Lysette Anthony Lysette Anthony is an English film, television, and theatre actress.-Early life:Anthony was born Lysette Chodzko in Fulham, London, the only daughter of actors Michael Anthony, and Bernadette Milnes.... |
| Julian Clary Julian Clary Julian Peter McDonald Clary is an English comedian and novelist, known for his deliberately stereotypical camp style, with a heavy reliance on innuendo and double entendre.-Early life and education:... and Matthew Cottle Matthew Cottle Matthew Cottle is a British film and television actor, best known for his part in the sitcom Game On, in which he played the ginger-haired, low self-esteemed, single banker Martin Henson... |
Janice Long Janice Long Janice Long is an English radio broadcaster currently working on BBC Radio 2. Her show is on Sunday to Thursday nights from midnight to 02:00. She is the older sister of TV and radio personality Keith Chegwin.-Early career:... and Mike Read Mike Read Michael David Kenneth Read is an English radio disc jockey, writer, journalist and television presenter.-Early life:... |
| Rakie Ayola Rakie Ayola Rakie Ayola is a Welsh actress, best known for her role as Kyla Tyson in the BBC medical drama Holby City. She first rose to prominence in the lead role of the 1993 Jeanette Winterson screenplay Great Moments in Aviation... and Charles Dale Charles Dale Charles Dale is a Welsh actor who is well known for playing Dennis Stringer in Coronation Street, Gary "Chef" Alcock in The Lakes and Clive Eustace in The Eustace Bros..... |
Toyah Willcox Toyah Willcox Toyah Ann Willcox is an English actress and singer. In a career spanning more than thirty years Toyah has had 13 top 40 singles, released 22 studio albums, written two books, appeared in over forty stage plays and ten feature films, as well as voicing and presenting numerous television shows... and Kiki Dee Kiki Dee Kiki Dee is an English singer with a career spanning more than 40 years.... |
| Keith Chegwin Keith Chegwin Keith Chegwin is an English television presenter, former child actor and singer.-Early career:Chegwin's early roles were in works of the Children's Film Foundation, appearing as Egghead Wentworth in The Troublesome Double Egghead's Robot . He also appeared as a stowaway in Doomwatch episode... and Sally James |
Dennis Taylor Dennis Taylor Dennis Taylor is a retired snooker player, and current BBC snooker commentator. Winner of two ranking events, he is best known for winning the 1985 World Championship, beating World number one Steve Davis on the final black in one of the sport's most memorable finals... and Willie Thorne Willie Thorne William Joseph "Willie" Thorne , is a former English professional snooker player and now a sports commentator.Thorne became national under-16 champion at both snooker and English billiards in 1970... |
| Ricky Groves Ricky Groves Richard "Ricky" Groves is an English actor best known for playing Garry Hobbs in EastEnders from 2000–09. Before his role in EastEnders he appeared in the series Burnside, a spin-off from The Bill.-Other TV work:... and Jilly Cooper Jilly Cooper Jilly Cooper OBE is an English author. She started her career as a journalist and wrote numerous works of non-fiction before writing several romance novels, the first of which appeared in 1975. She is most famous for writing the Rutshire Chronicles.-Early life:Jilly Sallitt was born in Hornchurch,... |
Vanessa Feltz Vanessa Feltz Vanessa Jane Feltz is an English television personality, broadcaster and journalist. She currently presents an early morning radio show on BBC Radio 2, a mid morning phone-in show on BBC London 94.9. In 2011, she started hosting The Vanessa Show on Channel 5. The first series ended on June 24th... and Nicki Chapman Nicki Chapman Nicki Chapman is an English television presenter who also works in the British pop music industry. She was also a judge on the ITV reality shows Popstars, with Nigel Lythgoe and Paul Adam, and Pop Idol, along with Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman and Neil Fox... |
History
Originally a daytime show when launched in 2000 with game host David DickinsonDavid Dickinson
David Dickinson is an English antiques expert, television presenter and entrepreneur.-Biography:...
. Later a primetime version, hosted by Dickinson, was also made (2002–2004), which was similar to the daytime show except that the teams' budget was increased to £500. It was on this version of the show that the record was set for the greatest profit earned on Bargain Hunt. A team led by Michael Hogben
Michael Hogben
Michael Hogben , is an auctioneer and antiques dealer, who has appeared in the BBC series Bargain Hunt and his own series "Auction Man."...
purchased a Royal Worcester
Royal Worcester
Royal Worcester is believed to be the oldest remaining English pottery brand still in existence today.-Overview:Royal Worcester is a British brand known for its history, provenance and classically English collections of porcelain...
box at Ardingly
Ardingly
Ardingly is a village and civil parish in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty about north of Haywards Heath in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England. The village is about south of London, south-south-west of East Grinstead, southeast of Crawley, north of Brighton and ...
Fair for £140; the item made £800 in the live primetime auction.
When Dickinson gave up the daytime show to concentrate on the primetime version, his place was taken by Tim Wonnacott
Tim Wonnacott
Tim Wonnacott is a Chartered Auctioneer, Chartered Surveyor English antiques expert, television presenter. He has been Director of one of the world's oldest auction houses, Sotheby's...
, an antiques expert already well-known to UK viewers as a long-standing expert on the Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow is a British television show in which antiques appraisers travel to various regions of the United Kingdom to appraise antiques brought in by local people. It has been running since 1979...
.
In April 2005 it was announced that the primetime version of Bargain Hunt had been axed; however the daytime version continued. Reruns of the daytime version (from the Dickinson era) also appear on BBC Entertainment and BBC America
BBC America
BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, and available on both cable and satellite.-History:The channel launched on March 29, 1998, broadcasting comedy, drama and lifestyle programs from BBC Television and other British television broadcasters like ITV and...
.
The show occasionally features well-known contestants, such as 'Allo 'Allo!
'Allo 'Allo!
'Allo 'Allo! is a British sitcom broadcast on BBC One from 1982 to 1992 comprising eighty-five episodes. It is a parody of another BBC programme, the wartime drama Secret Army, and was created by David Croft, who also wrote the theme music, and Jeremy Lloyd. Lloyd and Croft wrote the first 6...
stars Gorden Kaye
Gorden Kaye
Gorden Kaye is a BAFTA-nominated English comic actor, best known for playing René Artois in the British TV comedy Allo 'Allo!.-Early life:...
and Sue Hodge
Sue Hodge
Sue Hodge is a British actress, best known for her role as the waitress Mimi Labonq in the BBC sitcom Allo 'Allo!...
.
The show airs on the Australian Foxtel and Austar cable television channel, Lifestyle, at 6.30 pm weekdays. The show also airs on the Seven Network's digital station 7Two (Prime's 7Two, in Regional Areas), weekdays at 6.00 pm.
500th programme and 10th anniversary specials
On 15 October 2007, the 500th show was broadcast. This show differed from a normal show in that both teams were made up of experts – the red team featured David Barby and Philip SerrellPhilip Serrell
Philip Serrell is a British auctioneer, antiques expert, and television presenter.-Early life:Serrell attended the Royal Grammar School Worcester, where he was a schoolmate of the Pakistani cricket captain Imran Khan...
(described as the "old" team), while the blue team featured Kate Bliss
Kate Bliss
Kate Bliss is an antiques expert and television celebrity that has appeared on the BBC's Bargain Hunt and Flog It! and has also presented the BBC's programme Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is....
and Charles Hanson (deemed the "young" team); the "bonus items" were purchased by Tim Wonnacott himself. The teams were given £500 to spend, rather than the usual £300, with any profits going to charities chosen by the team members. The red team made a profit of £245, beating the blue team's break-even.
The show also featured outtakes and memorable clips from previous shows.
The programme marked its tenth anniversary on air with a week of special editions broadcast between 15 and 19 March 2010. These followed a similar format to the 500th episode, except that the teams were given only the usual £300 to buy items, with a separate £100 per team alloted for the bonus items.
Transmissions
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 15 October 2007 | 23 November 2007 | 25 |
| 19 | 11 February 2008 | 17 March 2008 | 24 |
| 20 | 21 April 2008 | 13 June 2008 | 24 |
| 21 | 1 September 2008 | 17 October 2008 | 24 |
| 22 | 19 January 2009 | 19 February 2009 | 24 |
| 23 | 8 June 2009 | 6 October 2009 | 32 |
| 24 | 26 October 2009 | 5 January 2010 | 32 |
| 25 | 18 January 2010 | 19 March 2010 | 32 |
| 26 | 10 May 2010 | 28 July 2010 | 32 |
| 27 | 6 September 2010 | 9 December 2010 | 32 |
| 28 | 3 January 2011 | 7 April 2011 | 32 |
| 29 | 9 May 2011 | 21 July 2011 | 32 |
| 30 | 26 September 2011 | 23 December 2011 | 40 |
Experts
- David Barby – Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS), Fine Arts Division – auctioneer before starting own valuation business.
- Kate BlissKate BlissKate Bliss is an antiques expert and television celebrity that has appeared on the BBC's Bargain Hunt and Flog It! and has also presented the BBC's programme Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is....
(née Alcock) – consultant for Hansons Auctioneers - James Braxton – owns Edgar Horns Auctioneers in EastbourneEastbourneEastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
and is executive director of Brackets Fine Art Auctioneers in Royal Tunbridge WellsRoyal Tunbridge WellsRoyal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex... - Pippa Deeley – sometimes credited as Philippa Deeley. Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Fine Arts Division (MRICS); Fellow and Diamond member of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (FGA) (DGA). General valuer, specialising in jewellery. Has worked in various provincial salerooms across the country. Now lives in East Sussex and runs her own fine-art and antiques valuation and consultancy company, Philippa H Deeley Ltd.
- Anthony "The Young Pretender" Gorman – MRICS
- Charles "Carlos" Hanson – MRICS, who runs his own auction house in DerbyshireDerbyshireDerbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
- David HarperDavid Harper (antiques expert)David Kingsley Harper is a British TV antiques expert and published writer He appears on Bargain Hunt, Put your Money where Your Mouth Is, Cash In The Attic and The Antiques Road Trip...
– antiques and classic car expert, and founder of TV Talent Supermarket, an agency for television presenters - Paul HayesPaul Hayes (antiques expert)-Career:Hayes began trading Dinky Toys from the age of six. Aged 19, he followed his father into the antiques business. His first sale was that of an old television. He has owned an antiques shop in his home town of Morecambe since the early 1990s...
– operates as a trade dealer, traveling around the country buying items from the public and selling them to his contacts within the antiques trade. He also has a stall at the Sunday market at Charnock RichardCharnock RichardCharnock Richard is a small village and civil parish in the borough of Chorley, Lancashire, in England.-History:The village was named in the early 13th century by the local landowner, who gave the township his first name of Richard, to distinguish it from neighbouring Heath Charnock. The village is...
near Preston - Paul Laidlaw – auctioneer and Auction House Manager at H&H Auction Rooms in Cumbria
- James Lewis – MRICS, Director and auctioneer at Bamfords Auction House in Derbyshire
- Anita Manning – when in 1989 she established Great Western Auctions in GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
she joined an already established band of Scottish female auctioneers. - Henry Meadows – auctioneer at the Cotswold Auction Company, former Medals Specialist and Auctioneer at Spink, London.
- Adam Partridge – runs his own auction house near MacclesfieldMacclesfieldMacclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
, Cheshire - Thomas "The Planter" Plant – worked at Phillips in Bath, and is now an independent valuer and auctioneer at a sale room in KentKentKent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
- Jonathan "J.P." Pratt FGA – started as a porter at Phillips in Edinburgh, worked in various positions before becoming Managing Director of Bellmans Auctioneers in BillingshurstBillingshurstBillingshurst is a village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. It lies thirteen kilometres south-west of Horsham, and nine kilometres north-east of Pulborough....
, West Sussex in 2004 - Philip SerrellPhilip SerrellPhilip Serrell is a British auctioneer, antiques expert, and television presenter.-Early life:Serrell attended the Royal Grammar School Worcester, where he was a schoolmate of the Pakistani cricket captain Imran Khan...
– owns Philip Serrell Auctioneers and Valuers in HerefordshireHerefordshireHerefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
and WorcestershireWorcestershireWorcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region... - Nigel Smith – trained as a restorer of fine European and oriental ceramics, before starting work as a porter and cataloguer in ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, and then moved to Sotheby'sSotheby'sSotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
as a trainee auctioneer, and then to Phillip's auctioneers in Bath. He now works at Tennant's in HarrogateHarrogateHarrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th... - Catherine Southon – former Head of Scientific Instruments at Sotheby's, previously trained in Maritime Art
- Mark Stacey – senior valuer with Dreweatt Neate Fine Art Auctioneers in GodalmingGodalmingGodalming is a town and civil parish in the Waverley district of the county of Surrey, England, south of Guildford. It is built on the banks of the River Wey and is a prosperous part of the London commuter belt. Godalming shares a three-way twinning arrangement with the towns of Joigny in France...
, Surrey - Elizabeth Talbot – auctioneer who moved to East Anglia to take up the position of Senior Auctioneer and Valuer at the DissDissDiss is a town in Norfolk, England close to the border with the neighbouring East Anglian county of Suffolk.The town lies in the valley of the River Waveney, around a mere that covers . The mere is up to deep, although there is another of mud, making it one of the deepest natural inland lakes...
Auction Rooms of Thos Wm Gaze & Son after her marriage in 1995 and was made the firm's first female partner in 2000 - Colin Young – a qualified chartered arts and antiques surveyor, he joined the GranthamGranthamGrantham is a market town within the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It bestrides the East Coast Main Line railway , the historic A1 main north-south road, and the River Witham. Grantham is located approximately south of the city of Lincoln, and approximately east of Nottingham...
firm, Golding Young in 1989 and has been principal since 1994 - Nick Hall – Principal Auctioneer at Frank Marshall Property Firm and antiques expert.
- Jeremy Lamond – Fine Art Director of Halls Auction House in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
- Philip Allwood – Auctioneer and Valuer at Moore Allen & Innocent's base at Norcote. Also appeared on Flog It!Flog It!Flog It! is a television series broadcast on the BBC, presented by Paul Martin. The show follows a similar formula to Antiques Roadshow, with members of the public bringing their antiques to be viewed and valued by a team of experts...
. - Rupert Toovey - Founder and Chief auctioneer of Toovey's Fine Arts Autioneers and Valuers.
Past experts
- Dean Goodwin (2000)
- Michael HogbenMichael HogbenMichael Hogben , is an auctioneer and antiques dealer, who has appeared in the BBC series Bargain Hunt and his own series "Auction Man."...
(2000–2006) dropped after working with ITV - Kevin Jackson (2000–2005)
- Toby Moy (2000)
- Susan Orringe
- Sally Stratton (2001–2002)
- Louise Weir (2000)