DAYTIME TV favourite Bargain Hunt is airing three special episodes to celebrate meaningful events.
The programme debuted in 2000 and sees two teams of amateur collectors face off to secure the best profits at auction.
On Friday, June 14, animals and antiques come together in the ‘Barking Hunt’ event, which celebrates the RSPCA’s 200th anniversary.
Airing at 12.15pm on BBC One, the teams are joined by their pooches, dressed up in doggy Bargain Hunt fleeces, to sniff out some bargains.
The special episode was filmed at Shepton Mallet antiques fair in Somerset, with Christina Trevanion presenting while experts Caroline Hawley and Thomas Forrester tried to keep the teams and their pets in check.
On the red team, Matt and Georgie are joined by their spaniel Sprocket and Val and Rachael on the blue team are joined by Jack the Jack Russell.
In Chippenham, auctioneer Tim Weeks introduces his black and white collie Roxy, before getting on the rostrum to sell the teams’ lots.
In a unique twist, the teams’ pets are battling to walk away with the ultimate prize – a golden bone!
The episode also sees Christina visit the RSPCA’s West Hatch animal rescue centre in Taunton to meet CEO Chris Sherwood.
On Bargain Hunt: Barking Hunt Christina Trevanion commented: “It was such a joy and a pleasure to host this special pet themed episode of Bargain Hunt to celebrate 200 years of the RSPCA.
“What many people might not know is that when I was a teenager considering which career path to take, I volunteered for two weeks at an RSPCA centre.
“I’ve seen first hand the incredible work they do with both domestic animals and wildlife, so this was a very personal journey for me. I was also very impressed with our canine contestants Jack and Sprocket, who proved to be very willing and waggy team members!”
Marking the start of national volunteering event ‘The Big Help Out’, Natasha Raskin Sharp presents Bargain Hunt: Time to Help Out, airing on Friday, June 7 at 12.15pm on BBC One.
Meanwhile, experts Danny Sebastian and Kate Bliss lend a helping hand to two teams of young volunteers at Newark antiques fair.
On the red team are friends Nancy and Ellen who volunteer at a foodbank and a historic house, facing off with dynamic duo Melvin and Darryl, social justice ambassadors for several projects which empower young people.
Natasha herself gets hands-on when she visits an inspiring voluntary project in Shropshire run by a merry band of bee-keepers.
The group have worked tirelessly to turn an overgrown and abandoned historic site into a thriving community hub which combines nature, history, art and education.
The stories they relayed were fascinating and in some cases, scary
Danny Sebastian
On Bargain Hunt: Time to Help Out, Natasha Raskin Sharp says: “It was genuinely inspirational to make an episode of Bargain Hunt surrounded by young volunteers who are so willing to give up their time and to plough their energy into their local communities, who must surely be so proud of them.
“I won’t give away any spoilers but they all did extremely well, so I think that karma was in the air.
“Very inspiring indeed!”
This follows the episode which aired on Monday, June 3 and marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
It saw Danny Sebastian present Bargain Hunt: All About D-Day, to mark the 80th, where he learned about the vital role of the beaches of South West Wales in helping troops train for the Normandy landings.
He also met photographer Seimon Pugh-Jones who owns a mobile museum with artefacts boasting an interesting history.
The two teams comprised of veterans who served in the Royal Air Force and the Women’s Royal Naval Service and they shopped at a huge antiques fair at the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire.
On the red team, Carolyn and Irene were guided by expert Stephanie Connell, whilst friends Dan and Mike on the blue team were keen to tap into John Cameron’s knowledge.
Danny Sebastian said: “It was an absolute pleasure to meet the teams of Armed Forces veterans. The stories they relayed were fascinating and in some cases, scary.
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.
“It’s not every day you meet heroes and these guys definitely were that.
“Also, Seimon’s collection and his travelling World War II museum were simply fabulous. It’s always a pleasure to meet a film star like Seimon who’s appeared in “Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers!
“I’m a very lucky boy and I’m over the moon that I had the opportunity to work with these people”.
Bargain Hunt is available to watch on BBC iPlayer
