However, I do have to declare an interest, for I and my brother Anthony are contestants in a forthcoming programme.
I do find the commentary more than a little patronising, but having said that, overall it is not that bad a programme.
Having seen it from the inside, I can assure your readers that the two things the producers required from us were integrity and honesty and it was hard work all the way through.
There was no fakery or fixing involved – the money was our own and risked by us and we both came away from the show’s filming a little wiser than before, though in my case with no desire to take up dealing.
Finally, I would point out that the show was made for the general public, not the antiques trade.
John Wakefield
Senior underwriter, Connoisseur Underwriting
TV show highlights expertise
MADAM – I was surprised to see the number of comments regarding Make Me A Dealer in the latest issue.
What stands out is that the BBC has been flooded with complaints about almost every new show that they televise due to it being well below the mark.
I echo the comments of Michael Baggott, who rightly states that neither the experts nor the production crew had anything to do with taking Flog It! off the schedules – the problem lies with the BBC hierarchy.
The experts of this and other antique shows are gracious and ready to impart their knowledge with both the public and the viewers.
Not only do these experts freely pass on their knowledge but encourage the public to look on antiques as items to be cherished not as pieces of firewood.
What must be remembered is that all of these experts, irrespective of which show they appear in, have gone through many years of triumphs and tribulations to get to the position that they currently hold.
As can be seen from these shows, more of the younger generation are getting involved in participating, and it is these who will keep the market in antiques thriving.
To try and get a person from the street to become a dealer in 20 minutes is degrading to the trade. To my way of thinking this is egotism gone mad. Let those who love what they specialise in get on with imparting their knowledge and trading as they see fit.
Hopefully, those participants in the new show do not think that they are fully qualified dealers as soon as they leave the show.
Perhaps the BBC will use these new ‘dealers’ to evaluate the public’s treasured items: this will show how good their expertise is in the antiques field.
Ken Lewis
