FOR over two decades, BBC’s Bargain Hunt has been bringing the thrills of antique hunting to daytime television.
But behind the quaint shopping trips and fast-paced auctions, the show has had its fair share of drama.
Bargain Hunt has had its fair share of controversy over the years[/caption]
BBC colleagues complained about Tim Wonnacott’s behaviour to the broadcaster[/caption]
Bargain Hunt auctioneer Charles Hanson was cleared of an assault charge[/caption]
From controversial exits to celebrity cheating scandals, let’s take a look back at Bargain Hunt’s most shocking moments.
Charles Hanson Cleared of Domestic Abuse Allegations
One of Bargain Hunt’s most recognisable faces found himself at the center of a legal battle that threatened to overshadow his career in 2023.
Charles Hanson, 45, was arrested on June 14 that year and accused of coercively controlling his wife Rebecca over a decade-long period.
The auctioneer was also charged with physically assaulting her, including an alleged attack while she was pregnant.
During the trial, Rebecca claimed she was “paralyzed with fear” after Charles allegedly put her in a headlock during a 2012 argument.
Further claims stated that he threatened to put burning embers from the fire on her in 2021.
However, Charles maintained his innocence, insisting he was “warm and lovely” to her.
When Charles was unanimously found not guilty of all charges he gave the jury a thumbs up.
Speaking outside court, he described the ordeal as “tormentuous” and said he was relieved to finally “live his life again”.
Tim Wonnacott’s Sudden Exit Amid Alleged Bullying Claims
Tim Wonnacott was the face of Bargain Hunt for 12 years before his time on the show ended abruptly in 2015 under a cloud of controversy.
Reports surfaced that Tim had been suspended following complaints from BBC Bristol staff about his alleged behavior behind the scenes.
The network launched an internal investigation into claims of bullying, which ultimately led to Tim’s departure.
While the BBC remained tight-lipped about the situation, they confirmed that the show would be “moving in a new direction.”
Meanwhile, Tim released a statement saying he had “thoroughly enjoyed” his time on Bargain Hunt and looked forward to future opportunities.
Since his departure, he has continued to work in television, lending his voice to Antiques Road Trip and other programs.
Bez’s Bargain Hunt Cheating Scandal
Celebrity specials can bring a bit of extra excitement to Bargain Hunt, but in 2018, Happy Mondays legend Bez took things a step too far.
While competing against Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker and Candida Doyle in a BBC Music Day special, Bez and his teammate Rowetta managed to bag an £8 profit on their items.
But something didn’t sit right with the producers.
Bargain Hunt presenters
First airing on BBC One in 2000, Bargain Hunt sees two pairs of contestants tasked with buying antiques from a shop or fair and then try to make a profit at auction. With David Dickinson and Tim Wonnacott among the show’s alumni, let’s take a look at the current presenters.
- Christina Trevanion: Aside from presenting, Christina is also an auctioneer and a partner in the firm of Trevanion & Dean in Shropshire. Her other TV appearances include Antiques Road Trip, Flog It! and The Travelling Auctioneers.
- Eric Knowles: An antiquarian with a primary focus in ceramics and glass, Eric has also appeared on Antiques Roadshow, Noel’s House Party, Call My Bluff and Going, Going Gone.
- Natasha Raskin Sharp: Daughter of artist Philip Raskin, Natasha is an antiques and art expert, especially Scottish contemporary art. She has also featured in Antiques Road Trip, Flog It! and For What It’s Worth, among others.
- Charlie Ross: An antiques expert and auctioneer, Charlie’s career dates back to 1963 by joining a local firm of estate agents after leaving school, later progressing to antique furniture. He has also popped up on shows such as Flog It!, Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is and Antiques Road Trip.
- Caroline Hawley: Away from the Bargain Hunt cameras, Caroline also runs a successful antiques business in Yorkshire.
- Danny Sebastian: Having joined Bargain Hunt as an expert in 2017, Danny became part of the presenting team in 2022.
- Roo Irvine: Initially signing up for the show as an antiques expert, Roo later became a main presenter for Bargain Hunt. She’s also appeared in Antiques Road Trip and Flipping Profit.
Upon review, they discovered that Bez’s own girlfriend, Firouzeh Razavi, had been secretly bidding on his team’s items, which inflated their prices.
As a result, Bez was disqualified, and the ending of the episode had to be re-shot. Pulp were declared the rightful winners.
Bez maintained that it was all an innocent mistake, claiming he had told Firouzeh to bid on a completely different tea set, which she misunderstood.
Still, the damage was done. The scandal even made it onto Gogglebox, where viewers couldn’t believe someone had actually tried to cheat on Bargain Hunt.
The Biggest Bargain Hunt Loss Ever
While some contestants leave Bargain Hunt with their pockets lined, others don’t have such luck.
The show’s biggest financial blunder came when expert Tim Weeks and his blue team spent £60 on a vintage ice cream fridge, expecting a sweet return.
Unfortunately, the antique failed to attract any bids at auction – even when the starting price was lowered to just 50p.
The fridge was ultimately left unsold, leaving the team with an eye-watering 100 percent loss.
