The Bidding Room

Original version

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

Factual: Antiques

Sellers come face to face with five dealers who battle it out to make the highest bid.

Nigel Havers presides as sellers come face to face with five dealers who battle it out to make the highest bid.

Nigel Havers presides as members of the public with interesting items to sell come face to face with five dealers who bid against each other to try to bag themselves a bargain.

Before facing the dealers, each seller has their item valued by auctioneer Simon Bower. Simon also gives them top tips on the history and key characteristics of their piece, so that when they enter the bidding room, they have all the information they need to try to haggle the best possible price from the dealers.

All the dealers are spending their own money but have no idea what the sellers have brought in.

Series 1

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The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

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Nigel Havers

Simon Bower

Claire Egerton-Jones

Rob Butterfield

Emma Walsh

David Sayer

Ricochet Limited

The Bidding Room: Series 1: Episode 1

Episode 1

BBC One - The Bidding Room, Series 1, Episode 1

Five dealers bid against each other to buy items brought in by the public.

Five dealers bid against each other for items including a piece of hair-dressing history, a beloved toy, some classic furniture and an item saved from the tip.

Nigel Havers welcomes four people who have brought in intriguing items they would like to sell. Nigel introduces them to resident valuation expert Simon, who runs his own auction house and will provide the sellers with specialist information about their items' histories and educated valuations. Armed with this knowledge, the seller enter the bidding room where they face five eager dealers ready to spend some money. 

The dealers have no idea who is going to walk in or what they will be selling, but if it’s something they want, they will have to bid against each other to secure the deal. The sellers will need to keep their heads and haggle hard if they want a bidding war to break out.

Today, Paul from Devon has brought in an unusual piece of hairdressing memorabilia, Belinda from Salford has salvaged an item from the rubbish which she hopes will make a weighty deal, Ged has brought in a classic piece of industrial furniture, and Matthew from Bradford is selling a beloved toy that he hopes will bring a final piece of joy to its late owner. 

The dealers are Adi Higham, Ian Humphries, James Gooch, Jane Cave and Tash Francis. Will any of them spend, and if they do, will any of them match – or even top – the valuation placed on each of the items?

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