Bargain Hunt is set to celebrate three of the BBC’s most popular shows in the coming weeks.
The fan-favourite, produced by BBC Studios, sees two teams of amateur collectors face off against each other to bag the best bargains with these specials featuring some extra special ‘hunters’.
Eric Knowles grabs his scarf and sonic screwdriver to present a special episode marking the 60th anniversary of Britain’s best loved action-adventure show, Doctor Who. After encountering a Dalek and escaping into a TARDIS, he’s transported to a Carmarthen antiques fair where he meets two teams of die-hard fans, each hoping to exterminate their competitors. Their companions for the day are experts Richard Madley and Kate Bliss, both dressed as two well-known Doctors. But which team will win the cosmic battle to make the biggest profit at auction? Eric also chats to a super-fan with an extraordinary and valuable collection of original Doctor Who props, some of which date back to the show’s early days - including alien outfits, Cybermen masks and of course a dreaded Dalek.
Eric said, "Having watched the first episode as a 10-year-old in 1963, it's great to be celebrating Doctor Who's anniversary on Bargain Hunt and sharing the love of this beloved programme with two teams of super fans. Over its long life, treasures of all kinds based on the series can be found, making it the perfect theme for a special episode".
Next Bargain Hunt joins forces with another legendary BBC show – Blue Peter – to celebrate its 65th anniversary. For the first time ever, the Red and Blue teams searching for antiques are made up of children! They’re guided by presenter Natasha Raskin Sharp, toy experts Tim Weeks and Thomas Forrester and two current Blue Peter presenters - Joel Mawhinney and Abby Cook. The children scour a huge toy fair at Sandown Park in Surrey, in search of vintage toys which could earn them some serious pocket money when their items go under the hammer at the auction. Natasha also looks at the history of Blue Peter memorabilia, from badges to books – and meets Anthea Turner, the former Blue Peter presenter whose famous home-made model of Thunderbirds’ Tracy Island caused a nationwide craze back in the early 1990s.
Natasha said: "What an incredible and exciting experience to welcome the very first children's teams to the show! Blue Peter is a British children's classic, the longest-running children's TV show in the world, and this is the perfect way to celebrate its 65th anniversary, while welcoming our incredible special guests for the occasion."
In a special BBC Children in Need edition of the show, Christina Trevanion and Pudsey host an action-packed celebrity showdown in Malvern, Worcestershire which sees TV chefs versus musicians. On the Red team are Michelin star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and Caribbean cooking queen Rustie Lee. They’re up against the Blue team, Heather Small from ‘M People’ and legendary musician Rick Wakeman. To highlight one of the many projects funded by BBC Children in Need, Jean-Christophe, who has a child with severe autism, makes an emotional visit to a family in Hampshire. He meets an 11-year-old girl with complex medical conditions and autism, whose life has been transformed by a black Labrador called Luna, provided by a charity called ‘Dogs For Autism’*. Then, at the auction in Staffordshire, hundreds of people gather to bid on the Red and Blue teams’ items and many more special lots and experiences, with all proceeds going to BBC Children in Need.
Christina said: "It's a real honour for me to host this special episode, as I've seen first-hand the difference BBC Children in Need makes to people's lives on a daily basis with my sister who has Down's syndrome. So it's important for me to highlight their work with the support of the celebrity contestants who have helped us raise awareness and money for the various projects and charities."
The specials will be broadcast on Fridays 17th November (BBC Children in Need) and 1st December (Blue Peter), and on Thursday 23rd November (Doctor Who) at 12:15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Bargain Hunt is produced by BBC Studios for BBC One and iPlayer. The Commissioner for BBC Daytime is Lindsay Bradbury, the Series Producer is Joanne Dunscombe, the Executive Producer is Paul Tucker and the Producer is Sam Ryall. The Director of the Doctor Who episode is Michael Bower, the Director of Blue Peter is Philip Tibballs and the Director of the BBC Children in Need episode is Gareth Luxton.
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About BBC Studios
BBC Studios is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group with sales of £2.1 billion (2021/22: £1,630 million). Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, the business is built on two operating areas: the global Content Studio, which produces, invests and distributes content globally and Channels & Streaming, with BBC branded channels, services and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. Around 2,500 hours of award-winning British programmes are made by the business every year, with over 80% of total BBC Studios revenues coming from non-BBC customers including Discovery, Apple and Netflix. Its content is internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who. BBC.com is BBC Studios’ global digital news platform, offering up-to-the-minute international news, in-depth analysis and features.
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