In the interest of supporting all forms of arts and media I took part in BBC's Bargain Hunt last week. (does that count as research?)
On a very cold and damp Tuesday morning my team mate Penny & I turned up at Ardingly Show ground in Sussex, prepared for some kind of participation, but not entirely sure what to expect!
If you haven't seen Bargain Hunt, let me explain - it involves 2 teams each being given £300 and an hour to spend it on 3 potentially good money-making bargains at a given antiques fair. Both teams set off at the same time with their own dedicated film crew and the aim is a) to make the most money and b) provide entertainment!
"Just keep talking" the director told us - Penny & I had no problem with that, and neither did the antiques 'expert' who went with us. The hugely entertaining Mark Stacey kept us (the red team) entertained and under control for well over an hour. And he seemed to know his stuff - the proof will be at the auction day in March when our chosen goods will compete against the blue team's items.
What did we buy in the end? A small 'bureau' with a crack in the top, a huge but lovely Games table and er - a ship. yes a ship! - that's when you see us starting to have a tiff on camera! It may have only been 40 quid but it was 5 feet long and the mast, sails and half the hull were missing.
Later ( it's kind of filmed the wrong way round) we were interviewed on camera by the charismatic Tim Wonnacott who asked us lots of jolly questions about our lives and we tried hard not to sound crass or twee and to be super-bright, arty and informed!
As always I take my hat off to the film crew - friendly, funny, and full of energy even when the wind howled around us and some of stall-holders hurled abuse. Only once did they tell us off, gently reminding us that we were filming for day time TV. Penny did mention a few times that she was after something Big and Danish (and I was after small and British) - now what's wrong with that?!
