Most people in the antique world, are either buying items to add to their collections, or hoping to resell them and make a profit. The Antiques Road Trip series falls in the latter category. The show, which has been airing on BBC since 2010, often involves two antique experts, who compete over five episodes each week, to make the most profit, with an initial budget of £200 each. It has quickly gained popularity, both nationally and worldwide, notably, for its classic light-hearted style. The proceeds from each sale are donated to charity, giving the whole experience a worthy cause. That said, here follows some of the most remarkable facts you probably didn’t know about the show.
Antiques Road Trip: Facts You Should Know about This Show
The show has been running since 2010
The Antiques Road Trip show was initially aired on BBC One, from 2010 to 2012. In 2013, it was moved to BBC Two, where it has since aired.
The Show has faced criticism for buying items at knock-down prices
In 2011, the show was brought under fire, with some viewers and subscribers accusing the contestants (the antique experts) of buying the items at extremely low prices, apparently lower than they (the viewers and subscribers) could sell them for. The production team stepped in to clarify that all deals were mutually agreed upon by the sellers and buyers, with no coercion, force, or pressure. It pointed out that a significant degree of negotiation was involved, as it was important for the contestants to get the best deals possible.
The biggest sale made a £19,940 profit
In 2018, the show’s presenter, Paul Laidlaw, made the show’s most expensive sale. He bought a Chambre Automatique camera, one of the rarest by Auguste Birch, for £40 and sold it in an auction sale for an astonishing £20,000. It was bid for, and purchased online, by a collector from Switzerland.
The next big sale had been made in 2016, by Anita Manning, who bought a Buddha statue for £50 and sold it for £3,500. In 2012, Charlie Ross had bought a Staffordshire elephant clock, which was slightly chipped, for £8, and sold it for £2700.
All proceeds are donated to charity
The contestants do not keep the money they make from their sales. After each episode, costs are deducted from the overall earnings, and the remaining amount is used as the budget for the next episode. At the end of five episodes (the weekly run), the contestant with the most earnings is declared the winner. The proceeds are then donated to BBC’s Children in Need charity.
The Celebrity version has been running since 2011
The Celebrity Antiques Road Trip has been aired since 2011. It runs over a single episode where one expert and one celebrity compete to make the most profit from a single sale. The earnings are also donated to charity.
The show is about a lot more than antiques
Antiques Road Trip is exactly a road trip. While the ultimate goal is to find and sell antiques, the show also makes a point of revealing and documenting some of the country’s history and famous sights. The contestants often visit places of historical and geographical significance, along the way, such as castles, and national landmarks.
