Tim Wonnacott
Encyclopedia
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
. Wonnacott is best known for his appearances as a presenter on BBC
TV programmes, including Bargain Hunt
.
Wonnacott was born in Devon
, England and on 15 August 2011, he was given the key to the city of Plymouth.
in Devon, followed by a postgraduate course at the Victoria and Albert Museum
in Fine and Decorative Arts.
, so his ambition was to be an auctioneer. He is a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
and an associate of the Society of Valuers and Auctioneers.
Wonnacott joined Sotheby's
in 1978, becoming a full Director in 1985. He was appointed sole chairman of Sotheby's South, based at Billingshurst
, Sussex
, and Sotheby's new saleroom in Olympia, London
.
Wonnacott left Sotheby's in January 2003 after 25 years, in order to concentrate on media activities and, at the same time, started the fine art agency and brokerage business "Tim Wonnacott & Associates". The rationale of the business is for Wonnacott and his colleagues to provide independent advice to both buyers and sellers of antiques.
In October 2004 Wonnacott took part in what is believed to be the world's largest public art auction when 63 fibre-glass cows were put up for sale outside Manchester
's Town Hall
. Proceeds were to be donated to local charity, Manchester Kids.
.
In July 2003, Wonnacott replaced David Dickinson
as the daytime host of the popular BBC1 television programme, Bargain Hunt
. The original contract was for 30 shows, but this has been extended to over 350 shows in light of his appeal to viewers.
Wonnacott also appeared as the host of the TV show Antiques Roadtrip. The concept involves two competing experts in each show buying objects which will be sold at auction in the hope of profits. The result is carried forward to the next show until one has proved to be the winner.
Other appearances include on BBC1's Restoration
; The Divine Michelangelo; Test the Nation
; Ready, Steady, Cook; This Morning
; Top Gear; Going, Going, Gone
; Going for a Song
; Light Lunch; The Antiques Show; Put your Money where your Mouth is; The Great Antiques Hunt; Buried Treasures; and Royal Upstairs Downstairs
.
Married with three children, two of whom attended Eton College
, Wonnacott used to live in the town of Macclesfield
, Cheshire
, from where he ran Sotheby's operations in the North West
.
Wonnacott has helped many charities over the years to raise money at auction, the most successful of which was the London 'Cow Parade' auction held in Autumn 2002, which raised over £400,000 for Childline
. Wonnacott conducted another auction for Cow Parade in the Isle of Man
in the presence of Prince Andrew
which made over £110,000. On three occasions, he has conducted auctions for Cherie Blair
at Chequers
, the Prime Minister's Buckinghamshire
country house, supporting charities including Refuge and Breast Cancer Care.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
antiques
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...
expert, television presenter
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
. He has been Director of one of the world's oldest auction houses, Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby'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...
. Wonnacott is best known for his appearances as a presenter on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
TV programmes, including Bargain Hunt
Bargain Hunt
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...
.
Wonnacott was born in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England and on 15 August 2011, he was given the key to the city of Plymouth.
Education
Wonnacott was educated at the independent West Buckland SchoolWest Buckland School
West Buckland School is an English public school located on the outskirts of the village of West Buckland on the edge of Exmoor, 9 miles east of Barnstaple, Devon. It comprises a senior school , preparatory school and a nursery...
in Devon, followed by a postgraduate course at the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
in Fine and Decorative Arts.
Professional career
Both his father and grandfather were auctioneers in the South WestSouth West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
, so his ambition was to be an auctioneer. He is a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is an independent, representative professional body which regulates property professionals and surveyors in the United Kingdom and other sovereign nations....
and an associate of the Society of Valuers and Auctioneers.
Wonnacott joined Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby'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...
in 1978, becoming a full Director in 1985. He was appointed sole chairman of Sotheby's South, based at Billingshurst
Billingshurst
Billingshurst 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....
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, and Sotheby's new saleroom in Olympia, London
Olympia, London
Olympia is an exhibition centre and conference centre in West Kensington, on the boundary between The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham, London, W14 8UX, England. It opened in the 19th century and was originally known as the National Agricultural Hall.Opened in 1886,...
.
Wonnacott left Sotheby's in January 2003 after 25 years, in order to concentrate on media activities and, at the same time, started the fine art agency and brokerage business "Tim Wonnacott & Associates". The rationale of the business is for Wonnacott and his colleagues to provide independent advice to both buyers and sellers of antiques.
In October 2004 Wonnacott took part in what is believed to be the world's largest public art auction when 63 fibre-glass cows were put up for sale outside Manchester
Manchester
Manchester 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...
's Town Hall
Manchester Town Hall
Manchester Town Hall is a Victorian-era, Neo-gothic municipal building in Manchester, England. The building functions as the ceremonial headquarters of Manchester City Council and houses a number of local government departments....
. Proceeds were to be donated to local charity, Manchester Kids.
Television work
Wonnacott has appeared as an expert on the Antiques RoadshowAntiques 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 July 2003, Wonnacott replaced David Dickinson
David Dickinson
David Dickinson is an English antiques expert, television presenter and entrepreneur.-Biography:...
as the daytime host of the popular BBC1 television programme, Bargain Hunt
Bargain Hunt
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...
. The original contract was for 30 shows, but this has been extended to over 350 shows in light of his appeal to viewers.
Wonnacott also appeared as the host of the TV show Antiques Roadtrip. The concept involves two competing experts in each show buying objects which will be sold at auction in the hope of profits. The result is carried forward to the next show until one has proved to be the winner.
Other appearances include on BBC1's Restoration
Restoration (TV series)
Restoration, Restoration, Restoration is a set of BBC television series where viewers decided on which listed building that was in immediate need of remedial works was to win a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund...
; The Divine Michelangelo; Test the Nation
Test the Nation
Test the Nation is a television programme, first broadcast in 2001 by BNN in the Netherlands where the concept is owned by Eyeworks Holding who license it to TV production companies around the world.-Show format:...
; Ready, Steady, Cook; This Morning
This Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
; Top Gear; Going, Going, Gone
Going, Going, Gone (TV series)
Going, Going, Gone was an antiques quiz show in the UK during the 1990s, which was shown on BBC Two and which was produced by BBC Scotland in Glasgow. The show ran from 16 October 1995 to 11 March 1998, and aired 144 programmes...
; Going for a Song
Going for a Song
Going for a Song was an antiques quiz show broadcast by the BBC from 1965-1977. It was a forerunner of the Antiques Roadshow. The original television series was hosted by presenter Max Robertson, with Arthur Negus appearing as the resident expert and antique valuer. The programmes were recorded...
; Light Lunch; The Antiques Show; Put your Money where your Mouth is; The Great Antiques Hunt; Buried Treasures; and Royal Upstairs Downstairs
Royal Upstairs Downstairs
Royal Upstairs Downstairs is a British television documentary series of 20 thirty minute episodes broadcast by BBC Two each Monday to Friday evening from 7 March to 1 April 2011...
.
Personal life
Wonnacott was born and brought up in Devon, England. He had one brother, who is now deceased.Married with three children, two of whom attended Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, Wonnacott used to live in the town of Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Macclesfield 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
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, from where he ran Sotheby's operations in the North West
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
.
Wonnacott has helped many charities over the years to raise money at auction, the most successful of which was the London 'Cow Parade' auction held in Autumn 2002, which raised over £400,000 for Childline
ChildLine
ChildLine is a free 24 hour counselling service for children and young people up to 18 in the UK provided by the NSPCC. ChildLine deals with any issue which causes distress or concern, common issues dealt with include child abuse, bullying, parental separation or divorce, pregnancy and substance...
. Wonnacott conducted another auction for Cow Parade in the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
in the presence of Prince Andrew
Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG GCVO , is the second son, and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
which made over £110,000. On three occasions, he has conducted auctions for Cherie Blair
Cherie Blair
Cherie Blair , known professionally as Cherie Booth QC, is a British barrister working in the legal system of England and Wales. She is married to the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair; the couple have three sons and one daughter...
at Chequers
Chequers
Chequers, or Chequers Court, is a country house near Ellesborough, to the south of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, England, at the foot of the Chiltern Hills...
, the Prime Minister's Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
country house, supporting charities including Refuge and Breast Cancer Care.
External links
- Official website
- Is 50 the new 40? - article on BBC News about Wonnacott turning 50.