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A contestant on Bargain Hunt has exposed a key element of the BBC show that is actually ‘faked’ in rare behind-the-scenes insight.
The hit series is a staple of the publicly funded broadcaster’s schedule and this year celebrated its 25th birthday.
It sees a pair of contestants pitted against each other as they buy antiques from a local fair before being challenged to sell them for a profit at auction.
While the haggling inside the antique fairs can often provide entertaining scenes, a contestant has alleged this is completely staged.
They claim the final selling price has already been agreed with producers in deals done before the cameras start rolling.
Speaking to the Daily Express, one former participant added that producers even steer contestants towards certain stalls and even items.
A contestant on Bargain Hunt has exposed a key element of the BBC show that is actually ‘faked’ in rare behind-the-scenes insight
The hit series is a staple of the publicly funded broadcaster’s schedule and this year celebrated its 25th birthday
Bargain Hunt sees a pair of contestants pitted against each other as they buy antiques from a local fair before being challenged to sell them for a profit at auction
They explained: ‘We were steered to a stall at the antiques fair and pretty much handed the stuff they were to buy.
‘And it was obvious that negotiations had gone on beforehand as the seller was way too quick to take an offer.’
The publication also quotes one seller claiming a crew member from the show running up to them at a car boot sale informing them they were filming for the BBC and a price had already been negotiated.
‘They said the expert and contestant will come over and can he pretend to bargain, and then they’ll agree on the price,’ they said.
If sellers didn’t want to appear on camera, they source added producers would find someone to pose as them for the show.
However, a BBC spokesperson said: ‘We don’t recognise these claims which are factually incorrect. The antique deals, interactions and last-minute dashes are all entirely genuine.’
Meanwhile, a Bargain Hunt contestant was lost for words after making history for all the wrong reasons.
A resurfaced episode from 2022, hosted by Eric Knowles, sees experts Charles Hanson and Caroline Hawley head to the village of Eccleston, Lancashire.
While the haggling inside the antique fairs can often provide entertaining scenes, a contestant has alleged this is completely staged
Another source is quoted claiming a crew member from the show ran up to them at a car boot sale, informing them they were filming for the BBC and a price had already been negotiated
For the first time ever, the red team – made up of Geraldine and Washington – did not find a third item to go under the hammer, taking just two to auction.
The pair were themselves ‘lost for words’, explaining how they found themselves in that position, with a rare Doulton jug and two vintage tennis racquets
‘Because there are so many things here – but it’s just finding that item that meets the criteria’, they said.
The show’s voiceover further clarified that the team simply ‘ran out of time’ to select their third antique.
It left the show’s host Eric stunned, while antiques expert Charles was flabbergasted.
