Latest news with #BargainHunt
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bargain Hunt expert leaves pensioner sobbing as photographs that tell heartbreaking story sell for more than 100 times their value
A Bargain Hunt expert left a guest sobbing when photographs that told a heartbreaking story sold for more than 100 times their value. Irita Marriott, who often appears on the BBC show, also hosts The Derbyshire Auction House on Discovery+. The programme sees Irita help members of the public find hidden treasures in their homes and make some cash in the auction house. One instalment saw Irita meet Helen and Ben, a mother and son who were trying to raise funds to pay for Helen's husband's dementia care. During the episode, Helen showed the expert a collection of photos which included signed, original copies from famous photographers. The images dated back to 1975 and featured pieces by Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen and Graham Smith. Helen's husband, Alan, came about the impressive photographs when working for a regional arts association. Since then, they had been hung in the hallway of their family home. The photos were sold separately and one was estimated to be worth between £80 and £120. However, Helen and Ben were left shocked and broke down in tears when it went for £12,000. Ben reportedly said: 'I was absolutely gobsmacked at the values people were willing to bid for what we thought were just nice pictures... that we saw on the wall every day. Absolutely brilliant.' Sadly, Helen's husband passed away before the episode aired and the money was used to cover the cost of his funeral instead. It comes after an Antiques Roadshow guest was brought to tears after learning the whopping value of a glass box she bought online for just £32. The treasured item left expert Joanna Hardy shocked after she inspected it during a repeat episode filmed at Edinburgh 's Scottish Gallery of Modern Art. The Scottish guest and the valuer were both shocked by the intricate and detailed box, with Joanna commenting: 'The skill of a goldsmith and the skill of an enameller is the same when they are making jewellery.' She then asked the guest for the story behind the intriguing piece and the woman explained she had stumbled up on it at an online auction in England and was so taken with the crystal that she snapped it up immediately. She went on to confess that she loved to browse online auctions, before noting that the box is no longer in perfect condition, but was still beautiful. She said: 'I think they described it as being glass, a glass box, and I knew it had something unusual about it, with the designs on it and things like that. 'I couldn't really see much of the silver, I had a sneaky feeling it might be that, so we actually polished it all to reveal the beautiful enamel on the surface and the lovely colours'. The guest then revealed she had originally bought the piece for just £32 and expert Joanna was left gobsmacked. Joanna then concluded that the impressive item had been made between 1860 and 1870 and was made by an expert enameller. She told the excited guest: 'So this is dating this from about 1860 to 1870, but there was one person that was really the head of this, he was the leading enamelist in Vienna at the time and he did the neo-renaissance work.' And it was then that the BBC expert revealed what the £32-crystal pot was really woth, revealing it could fetch up to £6,000. She said: 'If that was in the right auction I think you are going to be looking at between £4,000 and £6,000.'
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Bargain Hunt star Anita Manning's children as she opens up on mother-daughter business
Anita Manning has become a regular face on TV, but what is known of the Bargain Hunt star's family life away from the show? Anita Manning, a renowned antiques expert hailing from Scotland, is a familiar face on BBC One's Bargain Hunt. The 77 year old Glaswegian holds the distinction of being Scotland's first female auctioneer. The presenter, who has also made appearances on Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip, was introduced to auctions by her father during her childhood. She ventured into the antiques business in the 1970s, although she initially had different career aspirations. She pursued dance studies and subsequently became a teacher before tying the knot and starting a family. The expert is a mother to two children, her daughter Lala and son Luke. Upon becoming a mother, she expanded her knowledge of antiques by buying furniture at auctions. She then embarked on travels across the country, buying and selling furniture. Anita and her daughter Lala jointly manage the Glasgow-based auction house Great Western Auctions, a partnership that has been ongoing since 1989. Her son resides in Hong Kong, and the star is accustomed to her family living in various parts of the globe. Her own mother spent the final 35 years of her life in Australia. Over the years, she has gleaned much from her family and even set a record for the highest profit earned on a single auction item. In a remarkable turn of events on 'Antiques Road Trip' in 2016, she snagged a Buddha statue for a mere £50 and later sold it for a staggering £3,800. Her astonishing find however was topped by her co-star Paul Laidlaw just the following year. Intriguingly, when recounting how she decided on her career path, she mentioned: "Although I have always been interested in Antiques, and loved their sense of history, their beauty, craftsmanship and design, I did not start my working life aiming to be an auctioneer or be involved in the Antiques trade (in fact sometimes I still wonder what I'm going to be when I grow up)." She went on to explain: "But fate put the opportunity in my path and being an adventurous sort of gal I changed direction and set up Great Western Auctions with my daughter Lala in Glasgow in 1989, becoming one of Scotland's first woman auctioneers." She also expressed her gratitude for her profession stating: "I am so glad I did because I have the best job in the world and it has been a continual joy to handle wonderful objects on a daily basis and investigate their place in history." This expert has developed a special fondness for paintings, with a particular interest in works of Scottish origin. Anita, alongside her daughter Lala, inaugurated Great Western Auctions Ltd in Glasgow. They began their journey with a modest setup situated in the bustling West End of Glasgow, with an intimate team comprising themselves and one other staff member. Since then, the mother-daughter team has relocated twice to cater for their expanding enterprise. They now employ roughly 14 staff members, all of whom are specialists and auction administrators. Bargain Hunt is broadcast on weekdays on BBC One at 12.15pm.
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Bargain Hunt rules you never knew from hidden earnings to strict fleece policy
BBC Bargain Hunt has been a daytime TV favourite for 21 years now, but not everything is what it seems. The popular BBC show has a number of hidden rules for those who appear on it For many, appearing on the BBC's Bargain Hunt may seem like a pipe dream, but for some avid antique enthusiasts, it becomes a reality. They find themselves in front of the cameras, divided into red and blue teams, paired with an expert, and their chosen items are sent to auction. One pressing question is, 'Do participants get to keep the fleece?' Fortunately, we have the answer to that and more, including the modest "earnings" participants can gain from being on the show. According to the official BBC website, filming is a "slow process" requiring several days to be set aside for aspiring stars. The website confirms that buyers are required all day at the antiques fair to browse and all day at the auction house to witness their items being sold. However, the organisation verifies that the one-hour shopping limit is indeed restricted to just 60 minutes. Each antique fair day provides enough footage for four or five episodes of the show, so they won't be the only buyers present on the day. Family and friends are not permitted to attend filming, although anyone in the background of a shot could appear on TV unless they ask not to be filmed, reports the Liverpool Echo. After submitting an application to feature on the programme, potential stars will be asked to record a brief video of themselves to send to the BBC. They'll then be invited to an online audition, where researchers will assess how they respond to being on TV. The BBC typically assigns contestants either red or blue teams at random. For special episodes, however, they might grant a preferred colour if requested. Each duo is handed a starting kitty of £300 by show producers to splurge on various antiques, with any leftover cash being funnelled into a bonus buy picked out by their expert. After the gavel falls at auction, the contestants pocket any profits made from their sales. Bargain Hunt fanatics have been bustling on Reddit sharing tales and triumphs from the show. A user recollected his girlfriend's stint on the series, where she snagged a small win of about £30. This admission triggered a wave of comments, including one exclaiming: "£30 is megabucks on Bargain Hunt!" Contestants are also allowed to hold onto the famous Bargain Hunt fleece as a keepsake, which are stripped of their original brand tags, Regatta, prior to filming. A Redditor confirmed this perk, writing: "You do [get to keep it]. If I remember correctly it's a Regatta fleece, nice and warm. They snip the Regatta tag off the zipper before filming." Echoing this sentiment, another piped up with credibility, saying: "I used to work on Bargain Hunt, can confirm that you get to keep the fleece." The iconic high kick that caps off each episode has become a talking point, with guests reportedly often only given a single shot at it. Reflecting on their stint on the show, an ex-participant reminisced: "I was on it a couple of years ago. There were so many reshoots over the two days that when it came to the kick, I completely half-a***d it, expecting at least one more go at it. Only take. Horrendously bad!" On their website, the BBC has outlined specific rules for acquiring items, cautioning: "We have a few rules. No weapons (including swords). We are also very wary of items made of animal products or parts. And if you buy something large, make sure you can carry it!".
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Anita Manning's age unveiled as Bargain Hunt star was Scotland's 'first female auctioneer'
Anita Manning is a familiar face on the BBC, appearing on a number of antiques shows including Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip - but what is known of her life away from TV? Anita Manning, the esteemed Scottish antiques expert and cherished presenter on the BBC daytime series Bargain Hunt, as well as a familiar face on shows such as Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip, has an illustrious career and is hailed as Scotland's first female auctioneer. Her love for antiques was kindled by her father who would take young Anita to auctions in Glasgow, sparking a passion that would shape her professional journey. Her venture into antiques began in the 1970s when she seized an opportunity to work as a buyer, following the purchase of a bed from an Irish dealer. Despite her thriving career in antiques, Anita's CV also includes various other roles. She studied dance and PE in Aberdeen and Edinburgh and had a spell as a teacher before starting her own family. With the arrival of her children, Anita shifted her focus back to antiques, immersing herself in the trade of buying and selling furniture nationwide. Her entrepreneurial spirit led to the founding of Great Western Auctions in 1989, which she now operates with her daughter Lala. Fans of Anita on Bargain Hunt are often intrigued about her age, given her lively presence on TV. Born on December 1, 1947, Anita is currently 77 years old and will be celebrating her 78th birthday at the end of this year. Glasgow-born Anita holds her home city close to her heart, evidenced by her decision to base her successful business there. Reflecting on her career, Anita made it clear that she's had a lifelong ardour: "For as long as I can remember I have been passionate about Art, Antiques and Auctions. "The beauty in craftsmanship and design, coupled with the social history of the objects, that I am privileged to handle on a daily basis, has been a continual source of joy. "The drama and excitement of the auction world has been a most stimulating environment and one I relish being a part of. "Great Western Auctions was established in 1989 by myself and my daughter, Lala. "Although the company has grown enormously over the last 26 years, we still regard ourselves as a family firm providing a personal experience and dedicated service to our clients." Anita demonstrated her extensive knowledge in the realm of fine arts, particularly noting her expertise in paintings by 20th century Scottish artists, as well as her refined taste in both glass and studio pottery. Delving into her early influences, she disclosed that her passion for collectables was ignited by cherished childhood memories spent admiring the mahogany furniture in her granny's house. Bargain Hunt airs on BBC One on weekdays at 12.15pm
Daily Record
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Bargain Hunt's Anita Manning's life now as she sports natural look
Anita Manning has been a familiar face on our TV screens for many years, having been a popular expert on BBC's Bargain Hunt since 2010. But what is she up to now? Anita Manning, a seasoned expert on Bargain Hunt, is making a comeback to the BBC daytime series in a presenter role. She has been an integral part of the antiques show for many years. Her television career kicked off in 2010 and viewers quickly warmed up to Anita, recognising her for her quirky style and delightful Scottish accent. The 77 year old was often seen sporting her signature black bob, always impeccably styled. However, she's now spotted embracing her natural grey hair, which has been cut even shorter as part of a dramatic transformation. Hosting an auction on an episode of Bargain Hunt, she was almost unrecognisable. Touted as Scotland's first female auctioneer, Anita has been in the industry for over five decades, having started in the 1970s. Initially, she studied PE and dance before shifting her focus to buying and selling furniture. Since 1989, she has been at the helm of the Glasgow auction house Great Western Auctions alongside her daughter Lala. Anita frequently keeps her followers updated on her bustling schedule at the auction house, which has continued to flourish over the years. The auction house has been closed for the summer break but has just reopened on July 14, with the first set of sales taking place on July 23 and 24. Anita participates in numerous charity events as lending a helping hand to others is one of her greatest passions. In 2024, she marked a significant milestone with the sale of a Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell still-life piece titled Dahlias, which fetched a handsome £220,000. As the managing director and auctioneer, Anita commenced the auction with an opening bid of £80,000, and later reflected: "Scottish Colourist still life works remain in demand, with an international fanbase." She further observed: "They are fresh, modern-looking, instantly recognisable and have a universal appeal, a century on from being created." When not immersed in her professional duties, Anita enjoys personal time with her family, including her son Luke who resides in Hong Kong. With her 77th birthday approaching on December 1, she is likely looking forward to some cherished moments with her loved ones.
