The second series of Priceless Antiques Roadshow, the BBC’s fantastic spin-off show from world-famous Antiques Roadshow reached its fifth episode this evening, with another twenty to come. Perfect tea-time viewing, the show looks deeper into the Roadshow, one of Britain’s best-loved TV programmes, and with a 32 year heritage.
You’ll learn more about the experts and their personal passions and favourite fields of expertise, glimpse behind the scenes at Roadshows across the country, take a look back through the archives at some of the best and most fascinating finds and the stories behind them, and also see special features unique to the series.
I was lucky enough to be asked to take part in one of these, and one of the spots we filmed aired this evening. ‘Expert Eye’ takes three specialists, Katherine Higgins, Steven Moore and I, and pits us against each other to buy an antique or a collectable from three different subject areas against a set, and realistic, budget. First up tonight was ceramics, with each of us being given the task of finding something we believed to be a good, bargain buy for a maximum of £30. I visited the Shepton Mallet Flea Market, Katherine went to Alfie’s Antiques Market, and Steven was at the Lincolnshire Antiques & Home Show. Tune into iPlayer to find out what each of us bought and how how we got on.
The two remaining ‘Expert Eye’ spots yet to come cover furniture, and whatever we individually believed to be ‘useful’. I’m delighted to say that I came in well under budget for all of my finds, each of which I’d have been more than happy to buy myself and display or use at home. After you’ve seen it, I hope you’ll agree with us – it all goes to show that there really are so many fantastic bargains out there if you look.