Tim Weeks
(Expert)
How do you find life on the road?
It’s what’s at the end of the road that excites and inspires me; meeting new people, hearing their stories and obviously seeing their treasures.
What is your favourite part of your role?
My favourite part of being a Bargain Hunt expert is just being a part of the amazing BH team. It is a dream come true! Sometimes, I look at the contestants standing next to me in the blue or red fleeces, and I just want to run around kissing everyone and shouting, “I’m on Bargain Hunt!”
As for the day job, I absolutely love everything about being an auctioneer - from valuation and researching to cataloguing and auctioneering, I genuinely love it. I’m fortunate enough to work around great people where we work very hard, but also have a lot of fun.
Why did you choose a career in antiques?
Because auctioneering is the new rock 'n' roll, it has it all. There is the unpredictability of what items you will find each day and when you get up on that rostrum, the room is all yours… time to perform! It’s so exciting.
What would you do for a living if you weren’t working in the antiques trade?
Naturally, I would be playing in centre midfield for Arsenal. However, the pull of antiques was just way too strong!
What advice would you give to anyone wanting to work in antiques?
Throw yourself into it and just make it happen. You have to want to learn, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Get down to your local auction room and experience the buzz - it will inspire you.
How did you get involved in Bargain Hunt?
I was co-presenting the 麻豆社’s Street Auction when the boss at Bargain Hunt called me, asking me to consider a screen test. I feel very fortunate to be involved in such a British television institution.
Which fairs do you particularly like shopping at when ‘bargain hunting’?
I always prefer an outside fair, as I like being able to rummage through the larger stalls where it feels like even the stall holder isn’t completely sure what they have. Every time I turn up at a fair I expect to find ‘that’ item which will make my team rich… but I’m still waiting!
What’s the most profit / greatest loss you’ve made at auction?
I once found an old scrapbook containing 1940s football newspaper cuttings at a car boot sale. I asked how much it was and was told £40. It felt a little steep for a dirty old scrapbook until I flicked to the back pages, which had 21 wartime single sheet football programmes neatly stuck onto them, and I quickly realised it was a bargain. It also had match tickets, bubble gum cards and autographs. I sold it for over £1,000 after I performed the painstaking task of steaming each item out of the book.
My biggest loss was when I ‘blind’ purchased a collection of rock and film star autographs for £220. When they arrived they were all facsimile and worth about a tenner! Wow, it still hurts.
What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
Coffee, chocolate and singing in my car… I’m really good at it!
How do you spend your free time?
Having fun and lots of madness with my wife Alexa and two children Albie and Bella. They all boss me around!
Do you collect anything?
I try not to anymore! I used to collect loads… football programmes, toys, vinyl, ceramics, but I tend to spend my money on the kids instead of me these days.
Why do you think BH has such appeal?
It’s the contestants that make it. They are always up for such fun and although they arrive with great tactics, these seem to go out the window pretty quickly. It’s great when they want to take a real risk with their money or go against the expert’s advice – it makes for great jeopardy!
Why would you encourage anyone to appear on BH?
Because you will have fun and because the Bargain Hunt experience is magical from the second it begins.
