The Vintage French Farmhouse 

Original version

BBC One Yorkshire HD

The Vintage French Farmhouse

Factual: Antiques

Entertainment

Three dealers head to French markets in an antique-buying and online-selling adventure.

Antiques en France. On a buying trip to Provence, dealers are on the hunt for hidden treasures in its fabulous markets. Can they turn a profit from their purchases?

Series 1

BBC Two

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

BBC One HD

BBC One Oxfordshire

BBC One Oxfordshire HD

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West

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

BBC One North East & Cumbria

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South HD

BBC One Channel Islands HD

BBC One West Midlands HD

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East HD

BBC One Yorks & Lincs HD

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands HD

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

BBC One East Midlands

BBC One West Midlands

BBC One Channel Islands

BBC One Cambridgeshire

BBC One North West

BBC One North West HD

BBC One Nightlight

BBC One South

BBC One West HD

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East HD

BBC One Yorkshire

BBC One London

London

BBC One North East & Cumbria HD

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region. Separated as BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One London HD

BBC One South East

BBC One Cambridgeshire HD

BBC One East

BBC One South West HD

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

Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

BBC One Scotland HD

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

BBC One Wales

Wales

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Two England

England

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

Nigel Havers

Adrian Higham

James Gooch

Jacqui Harris

Rob Butterfield

Rae Gilder Cooke

Dave Martin

The Vintage French Farmhouse: Series 1: Episode 5

Episode 5

BBC One - The Vintage French Farmhouse, Series 1, Episode 5

Three top dealers head to Vauvert in an antique-buying, online-selling adventure.

Three antiques dealers head to an indoor market in the wine-producing town of Vauvert. They compete to find two hidden treasures each which they can then sell for a profit online. 

Antiques dealers Adi Higham, James Gooch and Jacqui Harries are on a buying trip to the south of France. Their base is a historic French farmhouse in Provence – perfectly located close to some of France’s best antiques markets or ‘brocantes’ as they’re locally known.

The trio head to an indoor market in the wine-producing town of Vauvert, which has recently opened in an old bus garage. Le Villages du Brocanteur de Vauvert is home to a host of stalls where local dealers can permanently display their stock, looked after by their neighbours, allowing them to trade at other local fairs. The market has a family feel with a chef and bar on site and live music and events throughout the summer months. But there’s no time for Adi, Jacqui and James to enjoy the sights and sounds as they compete to find two hidden treasures each, which they can then sell for a profit online. 

The trio’s first challenge is to find something they know will appeal to their loyal customers and social media followers. While James and Jacqui browse the stalls inside, toy lover Adi heads outside, as something caught his eye on the way in. It’s a handmade wooden truck which may date back to the 1950’s which has Adi excited. Adi speaks fluent French and has over two decades' experience of buying antiques in France, but will that help him convince the trader to part with the playful piece for a price that leaves enough for a profit? 

James - who specialises in historical, high-priced pieces - is on the lookout for a showstopper. A gilt sunburst mirror catches his eye, but it’s a large, headless stone statue that gets his bid. It’s a weighty piece with a hefty price tag, so will he be able to find a buyer with deep pockets in time?

Jacqui’s having a light bulb moment - or three light bulb moments to be exact. It’s a triple-stemmed standard lamp with brass fittings that’s turned her on. She’s convinced she can charge a high price for it, but can she haggle for an amount that leaves her with profit when she comes to sell it online?

As if the pressure of negotiating in an unfamiliar language wasn’t enough, the dealers take turns each day to dial up the heat and set each other a challenge to shop to a brief. Today it’s James' turn. The smells of the onsite chef’s cooking must be playing on his mind as he challenges all three dealers to find a piece of kitchenalia they can turn for a profit back at the farmhouse. But who can cook up the best deal in this particular challenge?

With six items bought between them, it’s back to the farmhouse to size up the competition. The 17th-century farmhouse is set amongst vineyards and olive groves, and provides the ideal backdrop for our dealers to take photographs and videos they hope will make their Provençal pieces stand out when they come to post their objects to sell online.

With just a day to secure a sale and the battle on to make the most profit, which of our trio will come out on top?

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Vintage French Farmhouse

Series 1

Episode 5

Contributors

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC One Yorkshire HD

About BBC One