BBC Bargain Hunt returns to Powys with four Newtown shows

One of daytime TV's most popular programmes could be returning to Newtown after filming in the town for the first time.
Four episodes of the iconic Bargain Hunt show were filmed in front of a packed Tower Auctions in Pool Road on Saturday (May 17).
The episodes, which will be shown from around three months' time, were presented by David Harper alongside antique experts Thomas Forrester and Kate Bliss.
Eight blue and red teams battled it out at auction to try and win the ultimate prize - a golden gavel - which is awarded for making a profit on all three items.
TV crews returned to mid Wales last week after filming the teams at the antiques fair at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells earlier this month.
Kate Bliss, who's an antiques expert based in Herefordshire, told the County Times that the showground fair is one of her favourites, which Thomas Forrester added "I love Builth Wells".
Both Kate and Thomas are the longest serving experts on the show after making their television debut when the programme first aired 25 years ago.
Thomas, who grew up on a beef farm and wanted to go into auctioneering after visiting cattle auctions with his dad, praised mid Wales' "beautiful countryside" and "fantastic" summery weather.
"I'm very much looking forward to this auction and the room is full which is quite unusual," he said.
"We'd like to thank Tower Auctions; they've been lovely and an absolute delight. They've pushed the boat out for us.'
Tower Auctions was founded 10 years ago by Cushy Numbers' John Gilligan and Ben Lloyd, who was the auctioneer on the day of filming.
'It's great for Newtown and our little auction house,' John said. 'It's been in the pipeline for a long time.
'They loved us, and they'll be using us again. It's fantastic for us and our area.'
One of the many locals inside the bidding room was Val Forsythe who's an avid Bargain Hunt fan.
"We often pop in here [Tower Auctions] so we've come to offer our support,' she said. "I hope it does well and it's good for Newtown."
A filming crew was spotted around Newtown last week including at the Textile Museum where presenter David Harper learnt more about the town's heritage and the Pryce Jones collection.
A spokesperson for Newtown Textile Museum said: 'What a great day we had filming in the museum with the BBC Bargain Hunt team!
'A thoroughly professional group of people who made the day so enjoyable.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Mail​

5 days ago

• Daily Mail​

Bargain Hunt host announces his 'last episode' has already aired in emotional post - as BBC fans make desperate plea

A Bargain Hunt host's 'last episode' aired this week as he announced his departure in an emotional post. David Fergus has only featured on the BBC show for four episodes since he joined the programme earlier this year. The star's fourth and final episode aired on Monday at 12.15pm on BBC One and saw David help Val and Daryl in the blue team attempt to make a profit. David revealed it would be his last time on the show before it aired on social media. He posted on X: 'The last of my four episodes of Bargain Hunt is on at tomorrow lunchtime, can I avenge my defeat from the last episode. 'Either way it was a great experience with the wonderful @hawley_caroline and Charlie Ross.' Fans were disappointed by David's departure and commented on the post to express how they hoped to see him on the show again. One penned: 'Will be watching, seeing more of you in future episodes we hope!' 'Hopefully we will see more please as I think you're amazing,' another added. 'Look forward to seeing the episode!' a viewer posted. Someone asked: 'But are you appearing in more episodes?' David replied and revealed he had recorded a segment to be used in the future. He said: 'I haven't filmed any more shopping episodes yet but I filmed a piece today to be inserted into a future episode.' It was only revealed in April that David would be joining the Bargain Hunt team. The star's fourth and final episode aired on Monday at 12.15pm on BBC One and saw David help Val and Daryl in the blue team attempt to make a profit. David revealed it would be his last time on the show before it aired on social media Fans were disappointed by David's departure and commented on the post to express how they hoped to see him on the show again The programme's official X account revealed that David and Serhat Ahmet had joined the team as the show's brand new experts. Ceramics expert Serhat has over 30 years of antiquing experience and sources trades in 18th, 19th and 20th century porcelain - making him the perfect addition to the programme. The announcement read: 'It's a massive welcome [to] one of our new brilliant experts - it's @SerhatAntiques! Welcome to the #BBCBargainHunt team, Serhat. 'Catch Serhat's first episode on Monday 14th April, when he's shopping with his blue team in #Exeter.' Sharing a video of Serhat, he introduced himself as he told fans: 'I'm Serhat Ahmet. I'm from London and I'm a dealer in European porcelain. 'I am really excited to be joining the Bargain Hunt expert team. What an honour. What a privilege!' The other newbie Dave wasn't a stranger to the television world as he previously hosted Cash In The Attic with Jules Hudson. He's classified as an auctioneer and studio glass valuer. The show took to Twitter to share the exciting announcement with fans In a second post they marked Dave's exciting news with the caption: 'Please give a huge welcome to our other new expert on #BBCBargainHunt. 'It's @1davefergus! You can watch David's first programme on #BankHoliday Monday 21st April when he guides his blue team in King's Lynn.' In the clip he said: 'I'm a glass collecting auctioneer and valuer from Staffordshire. 'I'm absolutely delighted to have been asked to join the Bargain Hunt team as one of the new experts.'

Daily Mirror

5 days ago

• Daily Mirror

Bargain Hunt fans left devastated as star announces final episode

Bargain Hunt expert David Fergus has taken to social media to announce that his final episode of the BBC show will air this week. Bargain Hunt star BBC star David Fergus has taken to social media to share an emotional farewell as he announces his "last episode". The expert, who appeared in four instalments of the popular antiques series this year, confirmed the final one will air this week, leaving fans feeling disheartened. ‌ David disclosed in a heartfelt tweet: "The last of my four episodes of Bargain Hunt is on at tomorrow lunchtime, can I avenge my defeat from the last episode. Either way it was a great experience with the wonderful [Caroline Hawley] and Charlie Ross." ‌ Following a surge of pleas from dismayed viewers imploring him not to depart, David responded: "I haven't filmed any more shopping episodes yet but I filmed a piece today to be inserted into a future episode." Supportive audience members raced to comment on the announcement, as one fan remarked: "Hopefully we will see more please as I think you're amazing!" Another supporter commented: "Will be watching, seeing more of you in future episodes we hope!" Having begun his venture into the world of antiques as a collector, David later transitioned into an auctioneer role at Richard Winterton Auctioneers where he excels in appraising art and studio glass, reports the Express. Sharing about his Bargain Hunt journey, David mentioned to BBC researchers spotted some of his social media videos for work which led to an invite to join the show, an opportunity he enthusiastically accepted. ‌ In the past, he's said: "someone on the Bargain Hunt team saw some social media videos I did for work and asked if I wanted to be part of the team. It didn't take me long to say yes!" He further commented: "Bargain Hunt has such appeal because we all want to find a bargain and quite often we see items on the show that we have in our homes or remember seeing in a relative's house. ‌ "We can feel the contestants' joy when they get a good result and feel for them when they have a loss. "The advice I would give to anyone wanting to get into the antiques business is be prepared to get dirty, because some of the items that come to us are filthy." He confessed that "life on the road" with the show provides him "the chance to see some lovely parts of the country I otherwise wouldn't have seen".

Daily Mirror

6 days ago

• Daily Mirror

Bargain Hunt fans 'furious' as team make show history with 'unfair' twist

A team on the BBC show Bargain Hunt made history when they were allowed to have a third item valued at auction after failing to meet the challenge - and viewers were not happy. Bargain Hunt enthusiasts were left in shock as a resurfaced episode made an unexpected entry into the show's history books for a rather unfortunate reason. The instalment, which first hit screens in 2022 with Eric Knowles at the helm, featured experts Charles Hanson and Caroline Hawley guiding participants through the quaint village of Eccleston, Lancashire. ‌ However, the events that transpired were unprecedented in the programme's 25 year history. ‌ Contestants Geraldine and Washington, representing the red team, experienced an unparalleled blunder by becoming the first duo to bring fewer than three items to auction – arriving with just a pair. The team explained their predicament, saying: "Because there are so many things here - but it's just finding that item that meets the criteria." They faced the challenge of finding at least one item valued over £75, but as time ran out, they could only muster a rare Doulton jug and two vintage tennis racquets, neither meeting the price requirement. A visibly surprised Eric Knowles delivered the news on air, remarking: "I've got to say, you have made Bargain Hunt history by virtue of you only managing to buy two items." Charles Hanson shared his astonishment, commenting: "I like to play to the wire but it went badly, badly wrong. We failed on the challenge. We failed with our big spend. I'm sorry, team. It really happened." ‌ To compound their woes, Eric noted the penalty for their shortfall, adding: "The ruling is that because you didn't do the £75 spend, you start with minus £75." Bargain Hunt enthusiasts were split after witnessing a team snatch victory with the help of a bonus buy, despite breaking show guidelines, reports the Express. ‌ The red team's fortunes dramatically turned when they chanced upon an Art Deco clock priced at £200 and subsequently sold it for an impressive £380, netting them a tidy sum and no small amount of joyous relief. Yet, audience members took to social media with a mix of outrage and amusement over the perceived rule breach. ‌ One displeased fan vented on X: "They shouldn't have been allowed a bonus if they hadn't bought three items!" Another was firm in their stance: "Shouldn't have been allowed to compete with only a £75 forfeit. Should've been disqualified in my opinion!" In contrast, a third person embraced the chaos: "Brilliant! This has got to be the best episode ever! What larks!" It's noteworthy that Bargain Hunt is not unfamiliar with controversy; back in 2018, a celebrity special had to be re-filmed after musician Bez's partner made prohibited bids.