Sun, Sea and Bargain Spotting
Contents |
Host
Chris Gower (original host)
Co-hosts
Experts: Mark Franks and Jonty Hearnden
Broadcast
Reef TV for BBC2, 2004-9 (95 episodes in 5 series)
Synopsis
Yet another permutation on the antiques game show, and one with an early contender for Worst Show Title 2005 to boot (the alliteration doesn't even work!). In this variation, the teams troop off across the Channel to buy their tat, rather than in Shepton Mallet. The punters get around £350 to buy at least 10 collectable items from shops in France, which they have to sell back in Blighty for a profit. The teams of two also have the assistance of an antiques dealer.
To be fair, the change of scenery does help this sustain the full one hour running time and increases the variety of objects for sale (please, no more church pews and penny licks!) However, you can't help feeling that these shows are beginning to hit epidemic proportions. Time to change the record, someone?
The show was suspended in 2009 after it emerged that a supposed "member of the public" who was shown buying an item from a contestant was in fact a cameraman on the show. After a BBC Trust investigation, the programme was found to have misled viewers, although it was noted that the BBC was unaware of the production companies practices. Our suspicion that the programme wouldn't be back proved well founded, as after the conclusion of the investigation, it was confirmed that the programme, and another which was also found in breach of guidelines, Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, would not be shown again.