Charlie Ross
Photo by BBC

Bargain Hunt’s Charlie Ross Drops Bombshell, Refuses to Appear on Antiques Roadshow After BBC ‘Mistake’

Antiques expert Charlie Ross, known for his charm and expertise on Bargain Hunt, Flog It!, and Antiques Road Trip, has opened up about why he decided not to join the iconic Antiques Roadshow team. Despite the show’s popularity, Charlie, 74, quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit for him.

In his autobiography, Sold!, Charlie reflected on the experience, saying, “The BBC and I made a mistake. Theirs was to ask me if I would like to join the Antiques Roadshow team, mine was to say yes.” Charlie had initially been excited about appearing on one of the BBC’s flagship programs. “For my part, the chance to appear on one of the BBC’s flagship evening programs was too exciting to turn down,” he said, reported by the Express.

However, things didn’t go as planned. During a pre-filming dinner, Charlie sensed that “the vibes were not good from the start,” though some members of the team, like Hugo Morley-Fletcher and Tim Wonnacott, were friendly.

The turning point came during filming when a woman brought in a Spanish Armada strongbox. Charlie made a cheeky comment, saying, “Madam, how lovely to meet you. May I say what a magnificent chest you have.” While the woman and crew laughed, the director was unimpressed, reminding Charlie that Antiques Roadshow is a “serious program.” The scene was reshot without his joke.

After a few appearances, Charlie realized the show wasn’t for him. “I suggested that perhaps Antiques Roadshow wasn’t really for me. They agreed, and I moved on to less serious programs better suited to my wish to entertain as well as inform,” he wrote.

Beyond TV, Charlie has had an illustrious career in the auction world. Starting in the 1960s with estate agents and livestock auctions, he transitioned to antique furniture and vintage cars, earning a stellar reputation.

He’s known for directing prestigious events like the Pebble Beach Vintage Car Auction in California and the Scottsdale Auction in Arizona. In 2011, Charlie made headlines when he auctioned a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype, which sold for over $16 million.

Outside of work, Charlie has been married to his wife, Sally, for over 40 years. They share two children and four grandchildren. Despite stepping away from Antiques Roadshow, Charlie remains a beloved figure in the antiques and auctioning world.

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