Bargain Hunt back in town several residents make TV appearance
A Wiltshire auctioneer and residents have made TV fame once again after a popular daytime show returned to town.
This isn't the first time RWB Auctions in Royal Wootton Bassett has been used as a filming base for the BBC show Bargain Hunt, but residents of the town were still just as thrilled.
The episode, which aired on BBC One at 12.15 pm on April 14, 2025, was filmed back in November 2024 and saw two teams compete to make the highest profit at the auction house near Swindon.
Host Eric Knowles sat down with Royal Wootton Bassett head auctioneer Gareth Wasp to find out exactly what he thought of the antiques up for sale.
The Bassett man predicted that one ceramic vase, which contestants paid a whopping £195 for, would only sell for £30-50.
With a final sale of £45, he was spot on the money.
Eric Knowles sat down with local auctioneer Gareth Wasp (Image: BBC) "It's early 20th century in age and pomegranate pattern. It's a nice shape and it's got that well-known name, but it's one of the more common patterns," said Gareth.
"That's a big challenge for me, so I'll look for the audience for that one."
The episode made it clear that auction rooms such as RWB Auctions are for everyone, no matter their price range.
"I think studio pottery is very popular now and it's an affordable piece for someone that doesn't have a huge amount of money to spend," added Gareth.
Residents were invited to attend the filming day (Image: BBC)
(Image: RWB Auctions) Izzie Balmer, a familiar face to Bargain Hunt lovers, was on hand in Royal Wootton Bassett to lend a hand, and Antiques Roadshow specialist Serhat Ahmed was also featured.
Despite having achieved TV fame multiple times, RWB Auctions only opened its auction house in Royal Wootton Bassett's former Co-op site in January 2024.
But the popular auction room has already attracted thousands of rare items, collectors and buyers to the town.
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In their first year, the team at RWB Auctions has sold over £2 million worth of goods to more than 2,000 clients.
A spokesperson for RWB Auctions said: "It was lovely hosting BBC Bargain Hunt for a second time last November.
"Teams were guided by experts Izzie Balmer and Serhat Ahmet, with the fabulous Eric Knowles hosting, and our very own RWB Auctions Head Auctioneer, Gareth Wasp, on the rostrum."
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