BBC TV show Bargain Hunt to film during auction at Beverley Racecourse this weekend

Popular BBC television show Bargain Hunt will be filming at the Hawleys antiques and fine art auction, being held at Beverley Racecourse this weekend.

Auctioneer Caroline Hawley, a long-time Bargain Hunt expert, will be on the podium taking the bids as the cast and crew film six episodes of the show for broadcast later this year.

Caroline is one of a team of Bargain Hunt antiques experts who advise two competing red and blue teams in their challenge to find items that will earn them a profit when later sold at auction.

This time Caroline will not be advising but will be filmed in the ‘what the auctioneer thinks’ segment, appraising the teams’ purchases and giving the auction estimate.

The Hawleys auction opens for a preview day on Friday (14th February), 10am to 8pm, with the auction taking place from 10am on Saturday (Lots 1 to 701) and Sunday, (Lots 702 – 1328) (15th and 16th February), with further previews on both mornings from 8am to 10am.

Bargain Hunt will film the “auctioneer’s chat” on Friday afternoon before filming the sale of lots from 10am on Saturday.

Caroline and her team will be selling more than 1,300 lots at the weekend’s auction including a range of collectables, ceramics, jewellery, paintings and prints, furniture, toys, coins and stamps, books, oriental items, militaria, and glass.

Caroline said: “Bargain Hunt are doing a ‘super shoot’; of six programmes, so I hope as many people can come along as possible and enjoy the experience, as well as take a look at a range of wonderful lots in the sale – to suit all budgets.

“We get bidders from all over the world online and many collectors and bargain hunters travel from across the country to come to our auctions.”

Some of the highlights this weekend include: medieval stone pinnacles from Beverley Minster and a leather covered armchair belonging to Robert Blackburn of Blackburn’s Aircraft company, now British Aerospace. This was rescued from a bonfire when his office was updated.

Also getting a lot of interest is a mid-20th century Hans J Wegner beech dining table and set of six “heart” stacking chairs; an assortment of fruit painted Royal Worcester; and a 1911 first limited edition 0000/250 Presentation Copy of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

And the second batch of one of the country’s finest private collections of Spode porcelain will be offered for sale.

The first part went under the hammer at Hawleys auction last November, fetching more than £20,000, with the third and final part to be held later in the year.

Entry to the auction is via the owners and trainers’ entrance at Beverley Racecourse. Refreshments to include hot sandwiches will be available all day.