Bargain Hunt: The Spotter's Guide to Antiques

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It has such a great mix of ingredients - the thrill of the treasure hunt, the fun atmosphere of the shopping, and then the jeopardy and rollercoaster ride of the auction with a dash of antiques facts thrown in. I think it is a winning recipe and in the all the years I have been filming it (which is a lot!) each team and each shop brings something different - which keeps it very much alive for me. It still a great challenge for us experts!

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I always prefer an outside fair, as I like being able to rummage through the larger stalls where it feels like even the stall holder isn’t completely sure what they have. Every time I turn up at a fair I expect to find ‘that’ item which will make my team rich… but I’m still waiting!He wrote: "Re: Bargain Hunt. What can I say - huge and grateful thanks everyone for your comments, likes and shares after my post yesterday announcing that I'm leaving @BBCBargainHunt I'm bowled over by your kind words and they're so very appreciated." I’d probably be a barrister. I tinkered with the idea of doing law but fine art won. I am sure there are some similarities though between holding forth in a courtroom and in a saleroom!

Bargain Hunt Spotters Guide by Farrington Karen - AbeBooks

I think the greatest profit has to be several hundred pounds but I can’t remember exactly! Greatest loss, well there have been more than a few disasters, as in true BH tradition... My father had his own saleroom when I was growing up so I started rummaging for treasure and sitting on the auctioneer’s rostrum, from an early age. I think a lot of the antiques business is in the blood. So many traditional dealers impart their knowledge and enthusiasm to the next generation, and so the tradition continues. My father certainly taught me how to auctioneer and command the room. My parents love antiques and quirky objects (my mother’s idea of a great Christmas present is an antique shrimping net!) and their passion has rubbed off on me. I also loved studying the craftsmanship of pieces and the history behind them. I try not to anymore! I used to collect loads… football programmes, toys, vinyl, ceramics, but I tend to spend my money on the kids instead of me these days. Marshmallows. Usually, I eat them secretly when the children aren’t looking, otherwise we would get through hundreds!

That is REALLY difficult. I have made so many great contestant friends and there have been so many! I will never forget my team of Olympians though, after the 2012 Olympics. They were the most competitive team I think I have ever had. My favourite part of being a Bargain Hunt expert is just being a part of the amazing BH team. It is a dream come true! Sometimes, I look at the contestants standing next to me in the blue or red fleeces, and I just want to run around kissing everyone and shouting, “I’m on Bargain Hunt!”